Photo Essay by Brett Hillyard
The Covid-19 crisis has confirmed that heroes live and work among us. Some sought the risk and reward of dangerous work, while others had essential status thrust upon them.
One of the most revelatory aspects of the ongoing pandemic is how quickly we have come to appreciate what is truly essential in our lives. Many we already knew about. First-responders, doctors, nurses, and scientists. Others, we’ve come to more deeply appreciate recently. We’ve all hopefully thanked grocery store workers in recent weeks for helping us feed our families—where would we be without them and thousands doing other jobs here in Orange County? Others have risen in support of those essential people—bringing them food, donating time, money, and supplies.
While viewing the photographs that follow, think about the people who have helped you and yours through these difficult days, and what we can do to support them, starting with a simple “thank you.”
Dr. Kari Kajitani
Emergency Room Doctor
El Centro Hospital
Paul Holaday
Fire Captain
Orange County Fire Authority
Lieutenant
Chris Corn
Harbormaster, OC Sheriff’s Department
Newport Beach
Chris Masilon
City of Anaheim Police Officer
Huntington Beach
Katie Hibbard
The Ecology Center
San Juan Capistrano
Lesli Henderson, Susan Thomas, Cynthia Carson
Volunteers
Laguna Food Pantry
Darlene Solarski
Pavilions employee
Laguna Beach
Wing Lam
Food delivery volunteer
Hoag Hospital
Irvine
Amar Santana
Chef/volunteer at OC Baking
Orange
Lauren Douglass
Balboa Island Ferry captain
Newport Beach
Jeanine Holley
Train conductor
Irvine
Randy
Tank truck driver
Costa Mesa
Leon
Bootblack
Newport Beach Car Wash
Patrick o’Donohue
Welder/installer at Baja HQ
San Juan Capistrano
Dr. Rodney Boyd
Dentist
Laguna Hills
Susan Valadez
Nurse
Hoag Hospital
