Frankenmuth

s we were preparing this edition of the Frankenmuth Living Community Bulletin, our world started spinning in response to the world-wide pandemic referred to as the "Coronavirus" or "COVID-19." In a time when new government orders and actions related to this public health crisis have many worried and afraid, your community leaders quickly came together to create a Task Force to share knowledge in helping to ensure the people of Frankenmuth are well informed, protected and have needed resources. There are many uncertainties in light of our current situation, but the Frankenmuth community always stands strong together. Information and news are changing rapidly; the resource links you see published at the end of this article are being updated regularly, so we advise you to refer to them each time you have a question or concern for the most up-to-date information. Stay home, stay safe. This might not sound as courageous as embarking on a ship to a new land back in 1845, but given the normal bustling schedules in modern day, staying home is courageous. It is also the courage that many of our residents have as they work to care for people in our region. And it is courage that calls many of our residents and businesses to serve others in need during this time. The stories are inspiring and give us hope in this uncertain time. Frankenmuth will prosper again because it cares for people first. We have more than 50 businesses in our community that are closed due to the Coronavirus, and while the future is scary for many of them, we continue to see acts of kindness. The Frankenmuth Woolen Mill, for example, has donated more than 2,000 yards of organic fabric, enough to make 25,000 masks, to groups of Mask Makers within the community. The Library is helping to lead the Frankenmuth Mask Makers as they provide materials for groups wanting to sew and then collect them to distribute to the most needed sites in our community. Affordable Maids Cleaning Service kept some of their staff employed by offering them hours if they helped make masks as well. These kinds of acts are not only generous but fulfilling for the business owners, the employees and the recipients of their work. Kremin, Inc. at the north end of town is printing headbands for face shields to donate to local hospitals. Businesses like Bavarian Inn donated goods to the schools for their lunch program and Zehnder's gave food to Hidden Harvest to continue to feed people in this time of need. There are businesses and teachers alike that are offering online education and activities to help the kids stay strong mentally and physically while being cooped up. The churches have all had to adapt to bring the Word of God into our homes in new ways as well as provide spiritual support that so many are needing during isolation. Things have changed rapidly and will continue to change. As of the time we write this, we are unsure what will happen with schools or the Stay Home, Stay Safe order. Despite all the unknowns, there is one thing we know for certain... FRANKENMUTH IS STRONG. #MuthMeansCourage. In support of this movement, we encourage you to hang a red ribbon, bow or sock outside your home. A You may know that in German, "Muth" means courage and it was the "Courage of the Franconians" that earned our cherished City its name. Today, that word is also symbolic of the people living in our City who have the Courage to do what's necessary to protect one another. 4

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