By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Those gathering around a sparse Thanksgiving table on Thursday are not alone in making the tough decision to go small so they can keep their families safe.
To help local residents cope with their COVID downsized Thanksgivings, the Wood County Health Department put together videos of local residents talking about their curtailed holiday plans.
There are coaches, health care workers, school leaders, elected officials, faith leaders and athletes – all talking about how COVID has changed their traditional Thanksgiving plans. https://sites.google.com/view/wchdohio-coronavirus/home/holiday-planning.
BGSU men’s basketball coach Michael Huger said the team normally comes to his home for a big meal and games. COVID has canceled those plans this year, he said.
Dr. Michael Lemon, a Bowling Green pediatrician, explained his children and grandchildren will be gathering around separate Thanksgiving tables this year – then Zooming together.
“We want to keep everybody safe by not increasing the exposure in the different bubbles we’ve worked so hard to create,” Lemon said.
The goal for the videos was to reach people who might be tired of hearing advice from public health officials, said Alex Aspacher, community outreach coordinator with the Wood County Health Department.
“This was something we came up with internally,” Aspacher said. “The goal was to engage a wide variety of people. Hopefully, this will amplify our ability to reach people.”
“Maybe they’re more receptive to seeing their neighbor or someone they know in the community,” he said.
In his video, Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn said his family normally hosts Thanksgiving for their extended relatives – numbering close to 35. This year, it’s just going to be four sitting down for turkey and the trimmings. The sheriff said he is trying to look at the bright side of having a much more relaxed holiday.
Some people injected humor into their stories. Perrysburg Superintendent Tom Hosler said this will be the first year his family will not travel to other relatives for feasting. This year, he will attempt to smoke a turkey – showing the new smoker, brine rub kit and seasoning injector.
“This looks terrifying, but we’re going to give it a shot,” Hosler said.
To make the video collage, the health department staff contacted local people to share their stories and set up an online dropbox where they could submit their videos.
“We worked the phones,” Aspacher said. “We’re really happy with it.”
The videos were shared to social media with the hashtag: #COVIDnotinvited.
In her video, Susan Spencer, head of the Community Learning Centers, directed her message to children. She suggested that kids help out in the kitchen and make Thanksgiving cards – then maybe curl up with a good Thanksgiving movie in the evening. And as always, Spencer stressed that kids wash up, mask up and step back.
Brittany Howard, Bowling Green City Schools nurse, said her family is trying to be creative this year by digging up some old family recipes and trying out some new ones.
“We’re going to use this year as a time to create new traditions while we’re doing our best to keep our family and community safe,” she said.
Information from the Wood County Health Department also addresses the fact that for many people, Thanksgiving during COVID is not all or nothing.
“The safest Thanksgiving is to celebrate with people in your household,” Aspacher said. But the reality is, many families will be going beyond those boundaries. So the health department offers advice on how to take safety measures at larger gatherings.
“Don’t gather around that one table like you usually do,” Aspacher said. Limit the number of guests. Set up separate tables so people can space apart. Wash hands often. Wear masks when not eating.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items between use. If celebrating indoors, open windows to improve ventilation. Limit the number of people in food preparation areas. Have guests bring their own food and drinks. If sharing food, have one person serve food and use single-use options, like plastic utensils. Stay home if you are sick.
The health department has created a quiz to see how safe your holiday plans are: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Thanksgiving_COVID_Quiz
While coronavirus has a lot of attention, the health department wants to remind people to not forget about food safety when fixing holiday meals. Those tips include:
- Thaw turkey in the refrigerator, in a sink of cold water (change the water every 30 minutes), or in the microwave. Avoid thawing foods on the counter.
- Wash your hands with soap and water often to avoid spreading germs.
- Refrigerate leftovers at 40°F or colder as soon as possible and within two hours of preparation to prevent food poisoning.
And the health department stressed that mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you’re struggling during these challenging times, the Ohio CareLine is a toll-free emotional support call service created by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and administered in community settings. Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-800-720-9616.
