Today, our #351GratitudeMoment tributes Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Secretary Marylou Sudders, the Commonwealth's Secretary of Health and Human Services. Each of these brilliant individuals is providing critical leadership in the face of greatest challenge.

Dr. Fauci serves on President Trump's Coronavirus task force and is considered a public health hero -- serving six Presidents. The LA Times wrote, "The simple reality is that when it comes to the science behind outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, there are few experts equal to Fauci. The 79-year-old has been at the forefront of the federal responses to a series of viruses that have threatened the nation, including Ebola and two recent coronavirus outbreaks." Dr. Fauci's fact-based, steady, and humane wisdom has served as essential narrative for our country's path toward hope and healing.

Secretary Sudders, leads 12 agencies and MassHealth, and now, the state’s coronavirus command center. Under her leadership, the center has a vast and critical mission including medical response and care, expansion of testing capacity, and quarantine operations.

Secretary Sudders also innovates to address greatest need. With Governor Baker, the Secretary engaged four Massachusetts medical schools to graduate students early to help fight the coronavirus. And, engages a "manufacturing response team" to mobilize companies to leverage their expertise and equipment to produce greatly needed gear and masks.

This national crisis has rightly shined the light on leaders like Dr. Fauci and Secretary Sudders, who deserve great admiration for their public service on any day. Within the new context of our world, their brilliance, effectiveness, and humanity inspire even greater awe and deeper appreciation.

We dedicate this #351GratitudeMoment to them and to the teams of extraordinary professionals and public servants with whom they serve. We are deeply indebted to them.

Today's #351GratitudeMoment is in the hearts and hands of our Ambassadors and Alumni -- as they dedicate appreciation to those they call family. Their strength, inspiration, greatest role models, most important mentors, and the source of endless wisdom, joy, and love.

Our 351 family, now a decade strong, is extraordinary beyond measure. Everything we are -- or have been able to build through service -- is because of your belief, devotion, and leadership. To you, we send our abiding gratitude and deepest affection.

We close out this week of gratitude moments by wishing everyone a beautiful weekend!

We pause at 3:51 pm to give thanks for those ensuring essential items and critically needed resources find their way to our homes, stores we frequent, and health and civic institutions at the forefront of hope and healing.

We dedicate our #351GratitudeMoment to all those behind the wheel and on their feet for 12, 15, 18 hour days wearing the familiar uniforms of the US Postal Service, UPS, Fedex, Amazon, and other truck and delivery services.

Because of them, shelves are stocked, critical items are replenished, prescriptions reach their destinations, and our nation's supply chain -- which helps drive our economic engine -- continues to hum. But, so too, our heartbeat, as birthday cards are delivered, college acceptances are received, and other important family correspondence helps close the challenging gap of social distancing.

These professionals are deemed essential workers for good reason. As one Twitter user wrote, "My grandpa has been a proud truck driver for over 40 years. The truth is truck drivers, like my grandpa, are the reason we continue to have access to basic necessities despite the worsening #COVID19 pandemic. Their decision to drive maintains our livelihood. #hiddenheroes."

To all the #hiddenheroes on the highways, Main Streets, and back roads of our Commonwealth...this #351GratitudeMoment is for you.

Drive safely, stay healthy and well, and know that you have 351 communities worth of appreciation sent your way!

Erin McAleer, President of Project Bread, provides motivation for today's #351GratitudeMoment: “We are also acutely aware that the 1 in 11 households and 1 in 9 children experiencing food insecurity in Massachusetts right now, are disproportionately impacted by the negative consequences of quarantines, unpaid sick leave, lost wages and school closings caused by the coronavirus epidemic. We need to stay focused on our emergency programmatic response to maintain and expand access to food. So now, more than ever, we need the public’s participation to raise funds and ensure residents have enough to eat.”

Project Bread is just one of the remarkable -- and remarkably effective -- leaders in the fight to end hunger across the Commonwealth. As COVID-19 continues to disrupt our economy and lives, the anti-hunger movement has stepped to the fore with innovation, generosity, and Herculean efforts.

The examples of goodness are abundant and in every one of our 351. We draw inspiration from these three examples of love-in-action.

To ensure the health and wellness of their families, Jewish Family and Children Services in Waltham, created a drive-through, minimal-contact Marketplace. Two hundred families received a week's worth of groceries, including Passover food and kosher chicken for families of Jewish faith.

An anticipated 100% increase in the number of families needing support engaged the tireless work of the team at the Sandwich Food Pantry to ensure that no one will go without. Volunteers will provide a month’s worth of groceries, including nonperishable foods; meat, milk, eggs and cheese; and personal hygiene products.

That same spirit of generosity travels to the Berkshires, where the Adams Council on Aging and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts partner in support of under-served populations without access to healthy foods. They innovated with a mobile food bank that featured an abundance of fresh produce. As testament to the adage, "it takes a village", the market was supported by the Forrest Wardens Department, Select Board Members, Board of Health, Adams/Cheshire School District, North Berkshire Emergency Operations Center, Berkshire Community Action Council, Adams Department of Public Works, staff, and volunteers.

Everywhere we turn, communities unite in support of community. Through this mid-week #351GratitudeMoment, we send our abiding gratitude to the anti-hunger leaders who inspire such unity, compassion, and generosity.

“If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him…the people who give you their food give you their heart.”
~ Cesar Chavez, civil rights and labor activist, Project 351 Service Hero

Each of us has a favorite restaurant, where memories have been made and milestones celebrated. Often, a home away from home, with friendships forged with the chefs and staffs that warmly greet us by name. Restaurateur-- and anti-hunger champion -- Andy Husband reflects, “Something I pride myself on, is that my restaurants are neighborhood living rooms. We supply more than just hospitality and food: We’re a shelter, a respite.”

In Massachusetts, more than 350,000 people are employed by restaurants, according to the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. These are our family members, friends, and neighbors. People we cherish, who now face great hardship due to lay offs or job insecurity. Those who own restaurants -- from neighborhood pizza shops to fine dining -- are experiencing the culmination of a life’s dream at risk. There is, of course, belief that the return of our economy will revitalize these places we know and love. That is our fervent hope for them and other small businesses.

Despite extraordinary challenge, the force of humanity from this industry is breathtaking. Today’s #351GratitudeMoment offers just a sample of their generosity and resourcefulness at this time of great need. Tomorrow’s “Good News Bulletin” will highlight more, as well as ways to support their efforts and industry.

In Cambridge, leaders are innovating care and compassion for the homeless community. City officials, business associations, and restaurants are collaborating to distribute up to 2,000 meals to local shelters including Harvard Square Homeless Shelter and Y2Y. Restaurants include Black Sheep Bagel, Cardullo’s, El Jefe’s Taqueria, Orinoco, Subway, and Veggie Grill and focus on healthy meal options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “We made our first delivery [Monday],” said Michael Monestime of Central Square Business Improvement District. “It was pretty humbling...It’s hard enough being homeless on any given day, and then under these circumstances it’s even more difficult.”

The generosity of this industry is legend and the bonds among colleagues are fiercely loyal. So, we celebrate, too, the initiatives created by restauranteurs for their own community.

This includes the “Restaurant Strong Fund”, a collaboration between the Greg Hill Foundation and Samuel Adams -- who donated $100,000 and up to $100,000 more -- to raise awareness and funds for full-time restaurant workers dependent on wages plus tips. With leadership from chefs Ming Tsai (2018 Service Hero), Ken Oringer, and Chris Coombs, the fund seeks to provide grants, up to $1,000, for basic living expenses for workers and their families. https://www.thegreghillfoundation.org/restaurantstrong/

Every day, our hearts leap as we learn of another act of kindness...another measure of the seemingly limitless grace in our community.

To the fine restaurant and hospitality professionals -- and even finer human beings -- whose passion, expertise, and full devotion has nourished, welcomed, and inspired us...we dedicate today’s #351GratitudeMoment and extend our care and support to you.

Project 351's heartbeat are the 3,753 unsung heroes and quiet leaders selected by their communities as Ambassadors since 2011.

We have a very special place in our hearts for unsung heroes, so with joy, dedicate today's #351GratitudeMoment to these very special people -- humble, selfless, and extraordinary without realization. Those who lift up, stand up, step up, and never give up. From every background, geography, age, and culture. In every corner of our state.

The last few weeks have been a master class of their grace and goodness. We've been moved and strengthened by the seemingly endless ways these heroes among us -- in hospital emergency rooms, fire stations, grocery stores, virtual classrooms, State Houses and city halls, neighborhoods and city blocks -- lift others with a ray of kindness, a word of wisdom, an act of generosity. Their example compels our greater humanity and reminds us that we each have a role in hope and healing.

Our daily #351GratitudeMoments have been and will continue to be dedicated to unsung heroes. Today, we've asked our Ambassadors and Alumni to dedicate this afternoon to extending appreciation to the unsung hero in their lives...or from their hometowns. An email, post, or written expression of their admiration and thanks.

We invite you to join us, too! And, help build a movement of gratitude, compassion, and kindness that will surely help illuminate the way in the days and weeks ahead.

Today's #351GratitudeMoment recognizes a community of every day treasures in our lives. Ones we may not have fully appreciated until this week.

We see them almost every day. Explaining how to tell when a cantaloupe is ripe or what aisle we can find our favorite cereal. Smiling, welcoming, part of our weekly rhythm in the neighborhoods and communities in which we live.

Over the past week, our grocery retailers and their community of professionals have become so much more. Facing extraordinary demand and new health guidelines, they work endless hours to restock the every day essentials that nourish us and the household items that bring us comfort. All while ensuring their stores shine with cleanliness and their employees remain cared for and healthy.

But, there's more. Retailers have changed hours and made special accommodations in support of the elderly. Shaw's has implemented "contact-free" deliveries to ensure health and safety for both customer and employee. And, Hannaford Supermarkets has donated $250,000 to food banks in five New England states. From large chains to corner grocers, they inspire with their leadership, generosity, and steadfast dedication to the customers and neighborhoods they serve.

As we close this week of #351GratitudeMoments, we celebrate and appreciate the truck drivers, in-store teams, vendors, executives, and supply chain partners who are the collective of grocers across the Commonwealth. You have our great thanks and deep respect.

Today we celebrate and appreciate educators -- the standard of excellence and devotion to the unlimited potential of every child to which we aspire.

In the light of recent challenges, our admiration and respect has grown exponentially. Educators continue to teach us invaluable lessons about young people and the magic of possibility. And, remind us to celebrate their unique gifts, nurture their desire to do good, and listen and learn from their insights and moments of discovery. From the classroom to the superintendent's office, educators give excellence and expect it in return, respect their students' opinions and honor their ideas, encourage their humanity and motivate their commitment to community, and challenge them to bring their best selves to every moment as they dream, discover, learn, and lead.

This week, our schools become virtual, with kitchens serving as lecture halls and laptops the link to both learning and community. Across the state, educators worked without quit to ensure continued enrichment in ways that nurture and care for the whole child. Innovations are aplenty as they forge connection and foster learning. Through video, @Taunton_Schools Superintendent John Cabral invited students for a fireside reading of "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type" . On social media, Project 351 Educator Advisory Group member @Hanscom_MPS offers daily gratitude for the students, staff, and traditions that celebrate the #WeAreMashpee spirit -- and the bonds that unite.

As educators continue to educate minds, lift hearts, and inspire the greatness within every child, we share our deepest gratitude. And, we extend our compassion, care, and support for you and your families during these uncertain times.

Thank you to all educators for your seemingly limitless capacity to serve, lead, and care.

President John Quincy Adams advised, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Indeed, the best leaders cause us to be more brave, noble, and true. To stretch beyond what we believe we're capable of -- in service to others and in pursuit of the common good. The last two weeks have tested and challenged our elected leaders and public officials, as they tread ever-changing new ground and unforeseen consequences. All while never waivering on their devotion to public health, safeguarding the economy, and caring for the most vulnerable.

Of course, there are challenges and disruptions -- and there will be more. But, we feel very fortunate and grateful for the Governor and First Lady Baker, Lt. Governor Polito, Health & Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, state legislative leaders, and local elected officials for their assured leadership, wise counsel, and results-driven course of action. And, for meeting such a great task with humanity and compassion. In Danvers, free school lunch service has been expanded for delivery to all residents. In Newton, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller cites "taking every action possible to protect our neighbors". There are examples of unity and caring all over the state,
For today's #351GratitudeMoment, our chorus of voices are lifted in appreciation of thousands of state and local leaders, and public servants. Those known and the often unseen, unheralded, but urgently required professionals at every level of government. Who, with shared resolve and all of our engagement, will help ensure our Commonwealth's continued health, safety, and unity.

We are grateful for the brilliant, brave, and selfless professionals in the medical, science, and research sectors who are sacrificing greatly to ensure our compassionate care, informed prevention, and fact-based education. We appreciate the vast communities within hospitals, medical clinics, and research labs who play unsung and central roles in their operational excellence -- facility, janitorial, culinary, administrative and security teams. We offer awe-filled admiration for the doctors, nurses, aides, clinicians, technicians, researchers, and medical leaders for their fierce resolve to find a cure, treatment, and way forward as a healthy, well, and united Commonwealth.

Today's #351GratitudeMoment is extended with our love and appreciation to each of them and their families...and with this musical gift by Service Hero YoYo Ma, who has dedicated this "Song of Comfort" to these noble and courageous professionals.