At ReopenNH.com, they have added a page called stories. People around the state have been submitting content. These stories are about the unintended consequences of the political will used against them in response to COVID-19.

Related: Non-Emergency’ Number’ Inundated With Reports About People Not Wearing Masks in Public

I’ll share three here, but I recommend popping over to view a few more. 

The people in North country are suffering

In North country, we are suffering financially, mentally, emotionally, and health-wise.

I am a business owner/sole proprietor who cleans major resorts and private residences, and although housekeeping/janitorial services may come under this “essential business” umbrella, that’s rather useless when the places you clean are no longer operating. I own a home, vehicles, have bills as most out there do, I have a family to support and feed plus a few pets that are a huge part of this family that also need to be supported. We have very, VERY small numbers way up here and few deaths, if any … yet, we can do nothing but sit here day, after lengthy, maddening day with no end in sight. Quite frankly, it’s like slow torture, and it’s inhuman to lock people up this way, for this long, with no solid end dates to the suffering.

I have a 16 year old daughter who cries herself to sleep most nights because she is very aware of what is going on, and she doesn’t understand these extremes and the never-ending path we seem to be traveling on. Nothing good is coming out of this.

Mark Sullivan
Littleton, NH

…

Single mom of 3, self-employed no more

Hi, I am a single mom with 3 kids, and I have my own skin care business and salon where I rent out space, but no one is working or paying rent. I have been without work since March 16, and was forced to close on March 27. No income coming in, have not received unemployment nor any response on PPP loan, nor have received stimulus money—so as you can imagine, it is tight over here. I have faith God will get us through, but we will need to re-open soon so that I don’t lose my business. I have been in touch with the unemployment office….waiting.

Marguerite Caron
Amherst, NH

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Olde Bay RV

My husband and I opened an RV business in June 2007. It is a very established business with many happy return customers. We have raised a family of three outstanding humans who are all assets to their individual communities. We weather the New England winters knowing that our prime time for business is April-July, and we always anticipate for the slow times knowing that once Spring comes we can accumulate enough income to hold us over. We love what we do, we love our lives, and we love our state (both born and raised in NH)

…And then a virus takes over our state, takes over our world. Not once in the history of the world have healthy people been quarantined (only the sick would be quarantined, and so far the world has not died off from a virus). You cannot sacrifice all for a few. So many small businesses are being compromised because of a virus that cannot be controlled nor should be. We want to be able to be successful again—we are a working piece of a huge puzzle in our world and in our town. Our livelihood depends on the state opening again.

Lisa Durand
New Durham, NH

For those interested, a second rally is taking place this Saturday in front of the State House in Concord.  On the sidewalk, not on the statehouse grounds. The same rules apply. Come masked or not, socially distant or not, or you can stay in your vehicle and drive around the block – honking your horn in support or reopening New Hampshire.

If you have not signed the petition, you can do that here.

| ReopenNH