Michael Welker

How did you hear about the Windsor-area COVID-19 response team? Why did you want to get involved?

I initially heard about the response team via Tom Marsh’s weekly E-Newsletter. I was prompted to sign up when the link to the form was shared on the Lunch Hour (now Windsor Live) live stream with Chris Goulet & James Reed.

How are you helping out?

The primary activities that I have been assisting with are the delivering of school meals and Veggie Van Go. Regarding the former, I am helping 2-3 days a week with the assembly/packaging of meals for delivery to students. For Veggie Van Go, with the new drive-through format, I contribute by placing food into vehicles.

How is it going?

I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with the COVID-19 response team. It is remarkable to witness what can be accomplished when a community is called to action in response to adverse circumstances. Along the way, I have been fortunate to both meet new people and see friends from a distance

How long have you lived in Windsor and what brought you here?

I have lived in Windsor since July 2018, just a couple months short of two years as of my writing this. I moved to Windsor from central Pennsylvania as the result of my wife accepting a job offer from Dartmouth College. We were both familiar with the area—Windsor, in particular—having visited our friends (and fellow Windsor residents) for nearly a decade prior to our relocating to the area.

What helps you cope during the pandemic? Is there anything that lifts your spirits at this time?

I consider myself lucky to be living in Vermont, and Windsor in particular, as I can say with certainty that coping during the pandemic would have been exponentially more difficult where I lived previously. The Windsor community is something to be celebrated and not taken for granted. What has truly lifted my spirits at this time is seeing members of the community adapt to this challenge and push forward. It may not be a popular thing to hear or say right now, but I am confident that good will come from this crisis. Aside from that, it has been comforting to be able to connect with friends and family (via a computer screen) throughout. My dedication to getting less screen time has taken a big hit, but I would not have it any other way given the circumstances.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I say it frequently, but it bears repeating; I am very impressed with Windsor’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. The level of preparedness and the community’s commitment to rising to the challenge has been exemplary. To that end, it would be remiss of me not to recognize Lori Rogers for her efforts in coordinating the volunteer response team. I also want to thank the town government for weathering a storm that none of us have ever experienced before.