Georgia Southern community volunteers earn accolade from Statesboro City Council
Last summer, when COVID-19 cases surged in the Statesboro-Bulloch County community, generous volunteers stepped up efforts to help slow the spread. Michele Martin (‘03,’06), associate director for Student Wellness and Health Promotion at Georgia Southern University, founded the group, Squash the Spread Bulloch, which distributed 80,000 free masks throughout the county.
“I wanted joy when I wasn’t finding it,” said Martin, adding that the group was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from people in the community. “Seeing the smile on their faces and to hear how appreciative they were, was truly heartwarming.”
Squash the Spread Bulloch was celebrated at the Dec. 15 Statesboro City Council meeting for helping educate the public about the importance of wearing masks. Statesboro Mayor Jonathan McCollar surprised the group when he presented them with a key to the city. The meeting, held in person, was also livestreamed. Martin tuned in virtually for the presentation.
“When the mayor held up the key to the city, my jaw dropped,” said Martin, a Double Eagle. “The team feels so honored. I can’t speak for the team, but as I reflect on how much this community has given me, I am so grateful. I felt compelled to give back.”
Many members of Squash the Spread Bulloch include Georgia Southern faculty and staff. They are Professor Tracy Linderholm, Ph.D., in the College of Education; Associate Professors Stacy Smallwood, Ph.D., and Raymona Lawrence, DrPH, in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health; Professor Karen Naufel, Ph.D, in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences; April Burke, who works for Information Technology Services; Deb Blackburn, coordinator for the Senior Companion Program; public health doctoral students Jill Johns, Tanesha Slocumb and Addison Mickens, who just graduated with a DrPH degree.
If you would like to learn more about the group and the educational and community resources it provides, visit their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/squashingthespread or website, Squashthespread.com.