Purple Martins-Ace Pilots of the Bird Kingdom!

Volunteers Marilyn Michalski and Gretchen Roth monitor the Purple Martin Houses at Kimberton CSA. These nesting sites have been used by Martins for many years. In 2019, their nests produced 24 new Purple Martin babies. This small number was the result of an alarming increase in the population of House Sparrows  – birds that usurp nesting cubicles intended for Martins.  The House Sparrow (or English Sparrow) is NOT a native bird – it was brought over from England and has spread throughout the U.S.  Because this sparrow takes nesting cavities away from Purple Martins and other birds, we discourage its nesting attempts.

Thanks to the generosity of Kimberton CSA owners, members, and volunteers, a new Purple Martin House was installed this year. This new avian residence is a T-14, a quality condominium made by Purple Martin Products.  A sincere “Thank You!” to everyone who contributed to this beautiful Martin home.

In February the foundation of the T-14 was prepared.  After the base of Sakrete cured, the new aluminum post and winch were installed. The team of Andrew, Becky, Tom Dilks, and Marilyn completed this task. Another milestone occurred on March 4 with the installation of the new T-14 nesting cubicles.  The team of Frank, Becky, Tom Dilks, Bob McMillen, and Marilyn hoisted the four large “condos” into position.

On the first weekend in April, Purple Martins arrived at Kimberton CSA, after returning to Pennsylvania from Brazil, where they over-Winter. We are happy to have them back, and we will do everything we can to protect them.  Martins benefit farmers because they eat thousands of insects – catching them in mid-air.  Martins are outstanding in their maneuverability in the air – Ace Pilots of the Bird Kingdom!

The Purple Martin colony at Kimberton CSA is one that Martins return to each year – so it’s incredibly valuable. Across the country the numbers of Purple Martins are slowly declining. We must do everything possible to help them and protect their nesting sites – to ensure that these magnificent migrators stay with us – and benefit our children and grandchildren.

Marilyn Michalski, K-CSA volunteer

info@purplemartinproducts.com

2020 member intro packages have been sent!

Dear Kimberton CSA community,
 
I am pleased to announce that our 2020 KCSA introduction packages have been sent to your email! All 2020 members please check your inbox as this document has some very important information in it. If you haven’t received it, and believe you should have, please contact me.
 
The Intro package is assigned to each member’s pick-up day and share type. These are as follows*:

• Tuesday Full

• Tuesday Partial Group A

• Tuesday Partial Group B

• Tuesday Box

• Friday Full

• Friday Partial Group A

• Friday Partial Group B

• Friday Box

*Lansdale Farmers’ Market Box share members will receive a separate email from Frank in due course.

Each member’s pick-up dates are set out in this document. This is particularly important if you are a Partial Share member because it gives you your biweekly schedule via your allocation of either Group A or B.
 
The package also reiterates the new COVID-19 pick up protocol. You can also read that on our blog here. We have added that face masks need to be worn by members when they pick up. Again, hopefully only a temporary measure!
 
And finally, one member per share needs to sign up via the link in the intro package for their allotted pick-up/u-pick time. This will be your allotted time for the season.

Tuesday members can pick either 1pm - 4pm or 4pm -7pm.

Friday members can pick either 1pm-4pm, 4pm-7pm, or 9am-12pm on Saturday.
 
Tuesday members, it would be helpful to shift a few of you over to Friday pick up, if possible. If you are flexible please let me know before picking a pick-up/u-pick time and I’ll resend you the corresponding Friday package. Thanks!
 
We are sold out for the 2020 season and the waitlist is now full.

 Last week’s newsletter was an ode to local food production; this week I think we need an ode to the Wellington boot! We are hoping for a great harvest season and despite all the rain, the early Spring, and late frosts, we remain in high spirits (although there has been some frost damage to the blackberries—hopefully they will grow out of it).
 
Whatever mother nature throws at us, we try our best to adapt! Our raised bed system provides some extra drainage and we are trying our best to direct the water out of the growing spaces. Our Assistant manager Becky introduced us to “silo tarping” last year, which we are utilizing as a weed suppressor and protective cover. So, on that one day of sunshine we can transplant!
 
Frank and I were scrambling around in the dark the other week covering the carrot seeds from a 3.5” deluge. We are tarping the coldframe during downpours, and we are slowly piecing the wind beaten field tunnel back together. The indispensable crew—Sara, Mandi, and Sara—are experts at hooping and covering as they trudge through the mud! Trust me, dragging a wet row cover through puddles is…well, a drag!
 
Over these last 3 years of intermittent thunderstorms, we have learned some lessons! Unfortunately, with farming, learning lessons usually means adding more work! But lest us forget, that however clever we get and however much money we spend, nature bats last!
 
Stay safe,
Andrew

CSA A-OK

Dear Kimberton CSA community,
 
I hope all is well.
 
For those members who have not had an opportunity to read our latest update on COVID-19 protocol, please take some time to review it here. We will be sending out our introduction packages next week via email. In these documents you will have the opportunity to sign up for a specific pick up/u-pick window as we will be altering our regular farm hours when the season starts in 5 weeks’ time. Partial share members will also be allocated into Group A or B in this document. The first pick up for Full, Box, or Partial Group A shares will be 5/26 or 5/29 and for Partial Group B shares 6/2 or 6/5, depending on your selected pick up day—Tuesday or Friday.
 
All shares this season will be pre-packaged for a quick pick up and members will need to bring their own scissors and containers for u-pick. There will also be a strict one member per share policy for pick up and u-pick. Please remember, one member per share is just a temporary measure. We expect our new COVID-19 protocol to ebb and flow as the season commences.

On another note, we have closed our online sign ups. Please email me if you want to be put on our waiting list. There is the possibility—but no guarantee—of a few spots opening up.

Blackberries have been weeded.

Pathways have been flooded.

I’d say it’s been since about mid-March that we have seen a significant increase in the number of sign-ups. It’s kinda caught up with us! We function on a first come, first serve basis. There is no other option, as we need to meet our operating expenses.
 
We realize we are very fortunate to be in this situation; despite the unfortunate circumstances. Even before Frank and I took over the farm in 2017, KCSA had not been meeting its membership capacity. The farm had to diversify its income streams to be able to make ends meet. I was at KCSA’s very first Farmer’s Market in Malvern in 2013, selling lettuces the size of my head! Some more Farmers’ Markets followed in the interim, splashed with a little wholesale until Frank and I inherited three Farmer’s Markets and a restaurant account, along with the CSA. Due to a lack of transport, personnel, and experience, we only had the capacity to take on one market at the beginning and chose Lansdale Farmers’ Market.
 
After our first year running the farm, we anticipated a drop in our CSA retention rate. This was to be expected under new management. That same year, we had the opportunity to be part of a new start up farmers’ market in Fishtown, Philadelphia. We took the chance with the hope that it would be a success. And some weeks were, for us at least. However, others were not and overall sales were down with us and only one other vendor making it through to the end of the season. The market subsequently folded.
 
So, it was only two months ago, where we were worried about how to make up the difference in our budget! We had offers of other markets but decided to wait for the right opportunity. In addition to dealing with a wet spring, farmers have been scrambling around setting up online stores or downloading online platforms to administrate and customize their sales. So, especially in cities, there is going to be more pre-ordered, pre-packaged boxes at markets. How this will affect sales is anyone’s guess!

 We have been told for a few years now that online stores and administrative and customizable software is the way forward for the local food movement (mainly by companies selling such items)! It does make sense. In part, local, organic, CSA farmers have been victims of their own success. From filling a niche in the market—where communities wanted to eat healthy, wholesome, sustainable food and needed someone to grow it for them—to then expanding to meet additional demand through Farmer’s Markets, restaurant sales, natural food stores, and coops. There was a boom! Fast forward to 2020 and we are now competing with large corporate entities, online shopping, 2 hour delivery, boxed meals, “organic’ hydroponics, grub hub, “healthy” fast food, etc!
 
Yet, here we are, with a bustling CSA…and one Farmer’s Market. I feel privileged. I’d say I am a bit of a CSA purist!
 
Nevertheless, I’m also a realist. I get that this is an unprecedented year. COVID-19 has got people thinking local food again, which is brilliant. Plus, with the stay-in-place directive, we finally have enough time to cook! In fact, crises and emergencies are synonymous with bursts of localized food production, especially home or allotment gardening. Think Liberty Gardens (1917-1920) during WWI, Relief Gardens (1930-1939) during the Great Depression, Victory Gardens (1941-1945) during WWII, and Community Gardens (1970’s-onwards) in food insecure urban neighborhoods (see Pudup 2007).
 
The reason I got into farming in the first place was by studying local food systems at school. Once you start doing the research, the contradictions in the conventional food system are quite apparent. Environmental degradation, social injustice, and animal abuse, to name a few. These are not sustainable practices. That’s not to say there is no place for some version of conventional agriculture or, indeed, global markets. Obviously, there is. However, it is times like these that we realize that small scale farmers, organic growers and local food producers need to take precedence. We can change the world and make it a little better one meal at a time!

Thanks for your support. Lets hope for a good harvest season!

Best,
Andrew

KCSA vs COVID-19 (Round 3)

Dear Kimberton CSA community,

In our last COVID-19 update, we discussed a few ideas on how we can lower the risk of spreading coronavirus between members and staff when the season starts on Tuesday 5/26 and Friday 5/29. Although still 6 weeks away, we are erring on the side of caution, and therefore, have made some concrete plans on how to keep us all a little bit safer during pick up.

Please remember, we hope these are only temporary measures! Obviously, when schools go back and travel restrictions are curbed, we’ll be readdressing the situation. This is the plan for the worst…we are hoping for the best.

The following bullet points are the key changes all members need to read, understand fully, and adhere to at the start of the season and then until further notice:

·        All shares will be prepackaged for members prior to pick up at the farm.

·        Only one member, per share, is allowed out of their vehicle to pick up and u-pick their share.

·        Members need to bring their own harvest tools and containers for u-pick.

·        Members will need to sign up in advance for a 3-hour window on their pick up day during which they can pick up their share and do u-pick.

Prepackaged Box Shares

We are abandoning our market-style CSA pick up for the time being. Our full, partial and box shares will all be prepacked for a quick and easy pick up. Members (one member per share) will come to the front of the pick-up shed and sign in with either Frank or I as soon as they park their car. No idling please!
 
At this point, box share members or full and partial share members who opt not to u-pick that week will be given their share and vacate the premises. Members who do opt to do their u-pick that week can do so but will be limited to 30-minutes.
 
U-pick maps, signs, availability and quantities will be visually accessible to all our members at the sign in table. Any questions should be directed to myself or Frank. Please do not approach or engage with any other members of staff and be courteous as you enter and exit the parking lot in your vehicles, as we only have one entrance gate.
 
Only one member per share can pick up and u-pick.

This is by far the most important new protocol. The easiest way to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 is minimizing the amount of people on the farm. Members should also keep the recommended social distancing of 6ft (2m) from each other when signing in and u-picking.
 
Those members designated by their household to pick up and u-pick are highly encouraged to take their temperature twice a day. If you have a fever, cough, or trouble breathing, please do not come onto the farm. You should self-isolate for at least 7 days and consult a doctor. If you are ill, you can designate a healthy friend or alternate family member to come pick up, as those nutrient packed veggies will be beneficial!
 
Please, please, please: we are an essential business! We have essential workers. Only one member per share is essential for households to get their veggies.

 Members need to bring their own harvest tools and containers for u-pick

Members will need to bring their own harvesting tools and harvest containers for u-pick to reduce potential cross contamination. Most u-pick items can be harvested by hand but if you forget your containers or scissors (for herbs and flowers) you will not have access to any here on the farm.
 
Access beyond the front of the pick-up shed and open u-pick areas will also be unavailable to members for the time being, this includes our water spickets. Members will have access to a porta potty and a hand washing station adjacent to the car park but sanitizer will not be available. An area will also be designated out the front of the shed for members to bring back the previous week’s wax cardboard box, broken down, for us to sanitize and reuse. Wax boxes only please, no bags, rubber bands or pint/quart containers.
 
Allocated pick up and u-pick times into 3-hour windows

We are going to breakdown pick up and u-pick times into the following five 3-hour windows.

• Tuesday 1pm-4pm

• Tuesday 4pm-7pm

• Friday 1pm-4pm

• Friday 4pm-7pm

• Saturday 9am-12pm

Members will receive an introduction package in two weeks’ time via email and will need to allocate themselves into one of the above time slots for their designated one member per share to complete their (bi)weekly pick up and u-pick. In this introduction package partial shares will also be allocated into either Group A or B. Once members are signed up for their 3-hour window pick up and u-pick window, any changes need to be approved by me via email. Other essential workers, vulnerable populations, and partial shares will have preference. The farm will be closed at all other times to our members. No exceptions. Please plan accordingly.
 
We believe these temporary changes will not really affect the vast majority of our members. In fact, shorter pick up and u-pick times, box shares, and bringing your own u-pick scissors is pretty standard for most other CSA’s!
 
We understand that the hardest part of these restrictions for some members will be not spending quality time with your family and friends here on the farm. Especially as Spring fever hits during those first few weeks of pick up! We sincerely hope that these are just temporary measures as we, too, get a kick out of members having fun together and enjoying their family time on the farm.
 
However, please let me be quite clear—ours and your enjoyment does not outweigh potentially contracting COVID-19, or worse, unwittingly infecting others. Please, think about this season as all about the veggies, not the experience! These new pick-up protocols are the best way we can ensure a healthy productive workplace whilst trying to maintain the traditional culture and operations of KCSA as much as we can during the 2020 season.
 
I hope this finds you well,
Andrew

OMRI IPM @ KCSA

Dear Kimberton CSA community,
 
I hope this finds you well.
 
In case you missed it, last week’s newsletter had some important information for members about potential farm protocol regarding COVID-19. You can view it here.
 
We also mentioned that our Purple Martin scouts had arrived! Day by day, the colony is starting to grow. Thanks to Marylin and Gretchen, we also have some resident bluebirds on the farm. In fact, I think there is an overall increase in birds. Unfortunately, this includes the pesky ones, too, i.e., house sparrows de-housing the indigenous bird populations. I feel like I am seeing more wild life everywhere! Less noise, traffic, standing pollution due to COVID-19, perhaps? Maybe I’m imagining it.
 
It’ll be interesting to see what the insect population is like this season as well. Such a mild winter, coupled with potentially less spraying by local authorities and in-home gardens due to COVID-19(!?), we could see an increase in pollinators. On the other side of the coin, we may also see an increase in pest populations. But don’t worry, we have an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system at the farm, which, incidentally, the Purple Martins are part of!

Now IPM is a bit of a buzz word, so here is my take on it. It is pretty straight forward—different methods of proactive and reactive pest control are integrated into a management plan. The plan should try to balance minimizing reactive controls and prioritizing proactive ones, whilst favoring the least biologically impactful methods. Proactive controls are usually the least harmful. Examples of proactive controls at KCSA include:

• The Purple Martins: We house a colony of Purple Martins (they fly all the way up from the Amazon rain forest to mate in the US over the summer) eat flying insects on the farm. Their diet consists of moths, gnats, flies and mosquitoes, so there is inevitably collateral damage. It is a mutually beneficial relationship: we provide the homes, they provide the pest control. It’s a win-win!

• Physical barriers: From netting and bird scare tape to sprinkling diatomaceous earth or clay on our plants to ward away insects, the physical barriers are the most common control on the farm. Soon you will see hundreds of sqft or row cover over our spring plantings to create a barrier between the insects and the plants. Although it is a lot of work to “hoop and cover,” this practice also adds a bit of heat, which, in the spring in particular, helps plant growth. Another win-win!

• Good farm management: Finally (but not conclusively) we have the most important of all—good farm management! Yes, a healthy soil means healthy plants, which means less chance of an insect attack or infestation. Crop rotations are essential. Having the same type of plant that is susceptible to the same type of pest in the same place year to year will create problems.

Most reactive pest controls are either liquid or powder sprays. Now, having an IPM system, does not necessarily mean you are organic. There is no certification process for IPM and I don’t think there can be. Technically, every farm has an IPM system—even if your only action is running around the fields with a fly-swatter! Our IPM system is a little more sophisticated than that, but we’re also not at the bells and whistles, scientific end of it, tracking insect populations to optimize the impact of spraying—although we follow the same sentiment. This approach is mainly adopted in production orchards, as it minimizes spraying non-Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) certified products.

 A farm’s IPM system, therefore, is part of good farm management. It’s our compliance with the USDA (organic) and Demeter USA (biodynamic) certification that regulates which sprays we can use at Kimberton CSA. They need to be OMRI certified. And that’s not to say we use them all! We have a select few that we use if/when we deem a pest population needs to be controlled, but only after all other avenues are exhausted.
 
Even then, we tend to lean on using the more benign sprays, i.e., Neem Oil instead of Pyganic. It's true that both of these products are derived from plants (the neem tree and chrysanthemum flowers, respectively); however, the former temporarily inhibits some insect’s reproduction cycle and the latter kills indiscriminately. Both are usually administered close to dusk to limit the number of pollinators that are out and about and protect the plant from any exacerbated U.V. damage via the spraying.
 
As we are certified Biodynamic by Demeter USA, we also use proactive preparation sprays 500 and 501 on the farm, These augment the biological activity on the farm and its overall health. Yes, it's official: using Biodynamic principles is just good farm management and, therefore, a great addition to our IPM system--biologically speaking. Further, experienced biodynamic farmers can also use other tinctures and preparations re-actively, particularly in trying to reduce the impact of fungal diseases on the plants.

Well that's it for this week. We should have another update next week.

In the meantime, stay safe.

Cheers,
Andrew

KCSA vs COVID-19 (Round 2)

Dear Kimberton CSA community,
 
I hope this finds you well.
 
As you'll appreciate, we are continuing to adapt our policies and protocols at the farm as the COVID-19 situation develops. With the start of the season still eight weeks away (first pick-ups are Tuesday, 5/26, and Friday, 5/29), it would be remiss of me to guarantee anything at this time except:
 

We will be growing and distributing vegetables throughout the 2020 season!

Unless there is a dramatic, positive shift in the course of this pandemic, however, a few changes will be necessary.
 
First, we will have to temporarily abandon our market-style CSA model. To ensure the safety and well-being of our members and staff, we will have full and partial shares prepacked into boxes. Our new box share program will remain unchanged. This will limit the amount of people potentially handling your food and create a quick and easy pick up.
 
To accommodate the smooth operation of this change in pick-up protocol, we will also have to restrict the open pick up windows. One possibility is prearranged and limited member pick up times within the larger pick-up window, reducing on farm traffic and congestion. Another option is to move our pick-up location adjacent to the farm, somewhere that could accommodate a “drive thru” system or potentially new pick up locations further afield to reduce travel for members not in the immediate Phoenixville area. We are also discussing the option of home delivery for our members who fall within COVID-19’s more “vulnerable populations.” We will keep you updated as our discussion progress.

Another big question on everybody’s lips is what about u-pick? Well, this is a little more complicated and has more potential to ebb and flow throughout the season depending on timely government advice. At the very least, we may need to have restrictions—similarly to local grocery stores—with a one person per share on farm policy at any one time. Having prearranged u-pick time slots and time limits for members is another option to ensure a steady but safe flow of members on the farm.
 
Unfortunately, and regardless of which plan we move forward with, members who u-pick will have to bring their own scissors or harvest tools and packing supplies to avoid cross contamination. The shed will probably be out of bounds to members during u-pick hours and we will ask all members and staff to adhere to the current, recommended, 6ft (2m) social distancing protocol. We can provide separate staff and member hand-washing stations.
 
The worst-case scenario would be a temporary suspension of member u-pick. If this were to happen, we will harvest some u-pick items to include in the prepacked shares. But please bear in mind that the reason most u-pick items are in fact u-pick items is because they are time-intensive to harvest. In this scenario we would try our very best.

I realize this is a lot to take in and, although most of the information above are just deliberations between Frank, myself and Becky at the moment, we wanted to keep you in the loop and assure you that we are proactively thinking about ours, yours and everyone in our larger, collective community’s health and well-being. This truly is an unprecedented time.

 We hope to maintain the traditional culture and operations of KCSA as much as possible throughout the 2020 season. As they evolve, new pandemic protocols may feel inconvenient or uncomfortable, but we ask that you work with us to ensure current and future access to the bounty of the farm. For us, this will require more administrative work, labor, and increased production costs on our already shoe string budget. We welcome the challenge! In return, we ask that you plan in advance, respect scheduled pick-up times and protocols, come prepared to u-pick with scissors and containers, and prioritize our community’s well-being.
 
We are all going to have to continue to be flexible and show humility as the harvest season commences. It’s an extraordinary time and although this situation really, really, really sucks and we are potentially facing our own mortality (and that of our loved ones), for the most part—and although we need to proceed with extreme caution—currently we are in a good place. You can still buy organic chocolate chip cookies in Kimberton Whole Foods, prescriptions are being filled, and I believe a stimulus relief package is being distributed.
 
I have a handful of good friends spread around the world. We remain in good spirits via What’s App, Zoom, email, and Facetime. Silly memes and videos are sent to liven the spirits. My mom has not failed to rally our extended family everyday by forwarding a varying degree of amusing Facebook posts. It’s the communication, the reaching out, the checking in that counts. This is a time that we will hopefully look back on and be proud of having been part of an empathetic, grateful, collective, human experience.
 
Oh, and a Purple Martin scout arrived on Friday!
 
Be safe,
Andrew

The Lamborghini of Purple Martin homes

Dear Kimberton CSA community,
 
We hope all is well.
 
The farm continues to gear up for the season ahead. We will be open and distributing vegetables as planned, starting May 26. Last week's newsletter was essentially a statement on how KCSA is currently dealing with the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. You can view that newsletter here. We will let you know if anything changes regarding our protocol.

Last November, we asked members to contribute toward some new housing for our Purple Martin colony. We quickly met our goal (thanks!!) and with additional contributions from Marylin and Gretchen (our Purple Martin experts), the farm, and a nice discount from the Purple Martin Conservation Association we purchased the T-14 housing unit.

The T-14 is the Lamborghini of Purple Martin homes. It is essentially a little condo complex suited to the needs of our migratory Amazonian visitors and Purple Martin conservers! Its easy to raise and lower; pull out, check, and report on the nest boxes; and, most importantly, evicting the invasive House Sparrow! And a few weeks ago, we got it all set up.

 To be honest, the introduction of the T-14 is a little bitter sweet. The gourds that it has replaced was one half of a quite iconic image at the farm. It is going to look pretty weird this year, but ultimately, it is an upgrade. The T-14 is some serious kit.

The Purple Martin's haven't been spotted on the farm yet, however, recent scout arrivals have been recorded in Paradise and Douglasville, PA. We are hoping for some action later on this week. Hopefully, we'll have some more news for you next week.

Best,
Andrew

KCSA vs COVID-19

Dear Kimberton CSA community,

My farm mantra is plan for the worst, hope for the best. As farmers, COVID-19 is just another problem that we can mitigate but can’t control. We truly are hoping for the best, but feel it prudent to have a plan in case of the worst.

From my understanding, the three tell-tale symptoms of COVID-19 are as follows:

1.       New. dry, continuous cough.

2.       Fever.

3.       Trouble breathing.

At KCSA our current staff protocol is to take our temperature twice a day—before and after work. If we have a low-grade fever of 100F or above we do not come to the farm. Further, if we contract a new dry, continuous cough or have trouble breathing, even without a low-grade fever, we do not come to the farm…we call for support! Obviously, runny noses, continuous sneezing, phlegmy coughs, and aching bones are all other symptoms that we would not come to the farm with either.

As for our current day-to-day operations, there is not too much more we can do beyond our continued compliance with the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA). Supposedly, the virus can survive on dry, hard surfaces for up to 24 hours; however, COVID-19 does not fare well on wet, organic surfaces. So, there is minimal risk of transmission to and from vegetables. Nevertheless, we will be even more vigilant about washing our hands, sanitizing our workspaces, not touching our faces and keeping our personal distance during the work day, in case one of us is unwittingly asymptomatic but infectious.

Curly kale seedlings.

Becky sowing spinach.

As for our members, for the time being, please do not visit the farm. If you have any questions, you can email us, message us on Facebook or Instagram, leave a voicemail, or write us.

Please be assured, the 2020 KCSA is going ahead as planned. We are all set up for the season, we will be growing and distributing biodynamic vegetables. Members should expect our welcome package via email at the end of April and by then we will have more information to determine whether we will need a “pickup protocol” and what that could potentially look like.

We will continue to communicate with you via our newsletter, bringing you farm news and commentary. There are going to be interruptions in all our lives in the run up to the start of the season and we sincerely wish you and yours health and good fortune. We all have family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbors that are vulnerable to the complications of contracting COVID-19 and there are many others that do not have the same resources, privilege, or purchasing power that we have. Through this testing time we need to remember that we have a responsibility to them as well. 

Sincerely,

Andrew