The Work-Life-School Balance

A Pop-up Solution To Hunger

Shots Nicole Xu for NPR How Stressed Out Parents Are Sustaining Careers Plus School-at-Home It’s been 200 days (200,000?) or so since the COVID-19 pandemic changed life as we know it in the U.S., and many of us struggle to keep life as normal as possible. But there is nothing normal about juggling parenting, school, and work duties at home, all at the same time. Many parents are “very not OK.” A recent NPR poll shows that 60% of households with children across the country have lost jobs, or businesses, or have had wages reduced since the pandemic began. Parents are anxious, trying to make sure there’s food on the table and that the kids aren’t falling behind at school. Children are impacted by the financial stress, too, and the loss of routine, Rhitu Chatterjee reports, and the reopening of major school districts across the country brings more worries about health and safety. Read on to find out what stress signals to watch for in kids. BONUS: What to look for in your school's reopening plan. (Hint: Masks, distance, and a clear sick policy.) BONUS: Whether you're working or schooling from home, here's how to optimize your work station. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Nina Feldman/WHYY The Health Care Heroes Working To Make Coronavirus Testing More Equitable Racial disparities in health care have only become more stark in the age of COVID-19, according to a Senate committee report, and that includes access to testing. Many minorities lack primary care physicians who could report their test results, and for health and safety reasons, health workers were refusing to test people who walked up -- instead of drove -- to testing sites. So as WHYY’s Nina Feldman reports, Black doctors in Philadelphia started bringing coronavirus tests to the community — on street corners and at church parking lots.   The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium has tested more than 10,000 people — many of whom have been reluctant to be tested by white providers. America has a long history of mistreating minorities when it comes to medicine. But these doctors are out to change that.   Read on to find out how the Consortium is reaching out and building trust. BONUS: How neuroscience is working to overcome its whiteness problem   /IOHNYC 'Freedges' Pop Up To Combat Hunger In Many Neighborhoods So many people are struggling to put enough food on the table right now that a grassroots program to stock free food in fridges — freedges, if you will — is becoming quite popular. The idea is that stocked fridges are placed in neighborhoods and gathering places where it’s convenient to pick something up you might need, say a half-gallon of milk. Or you can leave some fresh food, if you have the means.  It’s a patchwork solution. Traditional food pantries are being flooded by up to 60% more requests than normal. And it’s harder to get kids free or reduced-price school meals because so many are out of school. Read on to find out where the freedges are. BONUS: Check out the All Things Considered special episode that goes in-depth on the U.S. hunger problem here. Speaking of food — if keeping off the COVID 19 pounds has been a struggle, this might help curb your fast food habits: Ireland’s high court ruled this week that the sandwich chain Subway’s bread contains too much sugar to be called bread. So, when you approach the counter in Dublin, do you now have to ask for a foot-long sugar roll? More of this week's health stories from NPR 5 Tips To Prepare Now For Your Pandemic Winter Photo Essay: How People Around The World Are Reinventing Ceremonies Right Now How The U.S. And Four Other Nations Are Driving The Pandemic.   We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth. Your Shots guest editor, April Fulton   What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: shots@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy