articles

A Note from Your Publisher

April 23, 2020

By Sandra Ozaki, Publisher Macaroni Kid North Little Rock, Arkansas April 23, 2020

Hello everyone,

The next couple of weeks are going to be critical for so many of our friends and neighbors who had to close or reduce their operating hours due to the pandemic. Once we start rolling out the openings of businesses and organizations we are still going to have to be cautious and considerate of our neighbors. Some people have no choice but to shop for themselves regardless of their health or age. Others have at-risk members in their immediate family and have to take extra precautions. It will be a while before we return to a semblance of normality and that's okay too. Recovery for some families is going to take longer than for others. So let's bring compassion to the forefront of our daily interactions.


Macaroni Kid NLR would like to help as many of our small business owners as possible over the next month or so as they are allowed to resume their normal operating hours. We are reaching out to businesses to see if they have information to share, stories to tell, or employees to celebrate. But don't wait for us to contact you. If you have something you'd like us to share on social media or in an upcoming newsletter, you're welcome to email me at sandrao@macaronikid.com or message us on any of our social media accounts. 


And if any readers have a special story to share of your time in quarantine, a shout out you'd like to give to someone who has helped you or any positive news to share with the rest of our communities please let us know. Now more than ever we need to keep our spirits up and help one another adjust to a new normal. Keep in mind, kids are still homeschooling, first responders and healthcare professionals and staff are still on the front lines, and there will be inconveniences and bumps in the road as we reopen our local economy. 


We are still adding virtual events to the calendar for those with children at home. In the future, we will transition those into a guide that will be regularly updated. It is likely that many organizations found value in virtual events and will continue to add them to allow those who are homebound access to their programs. Right now, we are also sharing virtual events from out-of-state or national organizations because of their unique offerings. Please let us know if virtual events have helped you and if you'd like us to continue listing them for you.


Until next week, stay safe, and keep checking in on your friends and relatives!

Aloha,

Sandra