Not all viral mutations make viruses more harmful to the hosts, but some new variants of the coronavirus that cause COVID-19, such as the Delta and Lambda variants, are more contagious than the other versions of the virus. For example, in July 2021, the Delta variant is detected in 98 counties (https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/07/1095252 ) and the Lambda variant in 29 countries (https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/covid-lambda-variant-now-29-countries-what-evidence-do-we-have-its-more-dangerous). These new variants might pose a larger threat and are considered as “variants of Interest” (VOIs) and “variants of concern” (VOCs) by the World Health Organisation (https://www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants/).

 In many countries, therefore, healthcare workers continue to risk their lives to save patients infected with COVID-19. In East Nashville, United States, the community fights the pandemic by supporting their health workers. They created a fundraising program called “Random Snacks of Kindness for Healthcare Workers” at GoFundMe. The program, led by Sandee Gertz, aims to provide food and other essential items to the local healthcare workers by collecting resources from local businesses and re-distributing them to the healthcare workers. To meet the needs of healthcare workers, the residents ask them directly and deliver different items accordingly. Sometimes a meal is delivered and, other times, coffee and snacks are provided.

 As of August 15, 2021, the East Nashville volunteers have collected $905. However, the program aims to raise $5,000, and they are still far from this goal.

 Learn more about the action and donate at https://www.latinpost.com/articles/151521/20210815/nashvilles-residents-random-snacks-kindness-act-aims-help-front-liners.htm