Pandemic Support — And What It Still Teaches Us Today: How a Small Town’s Response Became a Blueprint for Everyday Resilience
When the pandemic hit, many communities struggled with shortages, confusion, and fear. But in San Juan Bautista, something different happened. Farmers dropped off boxes of produce at the schoolyard. Volunteers — just a couple of people, no formal organization, except through coordination with the City Council — helped stack boxes, load boxes, and answer questions. Homemade masks appeared inside the produce boxes, sewn by hands no one ever identified. Colorful, different, fun. People drove up, collected what they needed, and went home. I did not need a box, but my neighbor did. I picked one up for her each week; no questions asked. No lines. No paperwork. No stigma. No panic. The local store never ran out of toilet paper. Or paper products of any kind. People bought what they needed at the moment. They left the rest for those who might need it. The city code enforcer (closest thing to law enforcement in town) passed out big cards to every family. Put a yellow card in the window if...
