Macon Magazine

LARRY SCHLESINGER "I met him a number of food giveaways ago – he just walked up saying, 'Put me to work. I want to help,'" said Grace Baptist Church's Valerie Johnson about Larry Schlesinger. "He got to it along with our other volunteers." Johnson heads the church's food ministry, and at first encounter didn't really know her new volunteer was Macon- Bibb County Commissioner and mayoral candidate Larry Schlesinger, long-time rabbi at Temple Beth Israel, now retired. Johnson soon learned more fully who Schlesinger was but said she wasn't most impressed by his titles but that she found him, "a very kind man, eager to give back to the community despite being busy with public responsibilities." Schlesinger's answer to why he helps goes like this: "With more than 25 percent in Macon-Bibb at or below the poverty line – that's 1 out of 4 – I know there's always a need. When the virus hit, all of a sudden there was even greater need. With people being laid off and losing jobs, I saw food was a major issue and wanted to be of help." Schlesinger's ongoing involvement has been frontline and behind the scenes. Upon seeing enormous response to food distributions, and especially an early April single distribution by the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank at the Macon Coliseum, he decided to get on the phone and help organize similar giveaways at separate locations covering Macon-Bibb. "We needed something similar in various neighborhoods around the county and I felt the faith community needed to come to the forefront," he said. Grace Baptist's pastor, the Rev. David Stephens, said he knew Schlesinger from past community efforts and wasn't surprised at seeing him help the church distribute food. "Rabbi Schlesinger has always supported the community and was especially helpful during our 'Do Something Macon' events. ... He sees the need and has always been very adamant about helping. That makes him a hero in my book." —Michael W. Pannell Conner McMichael When Georgia began to be affected by the coronavirus, bedside nurse Conner McMichael was one of the first Navicent Health teammates to volunteer to work with COVID-19 patients. McMichael didn't expect to be fighting a pandemic so early in her nursing career. "She wanted to do what she could to help these patients and the hospital," Tracey Blalock said. "She is a very young nurse, but many do not realize that because of the level of care she provides her patients." McMichael volunteered to work in the COVID unit because many of her coworkers have young children and families. "They needed a lot of volunteers and a lot of people were hesitant, but if I could have done it first, before anyone else who has children to take care of, I would much rather be that person," McMichael said. She expressed that the job can get emotionally draining sometimes, espeically when everything moves so fast. The only personal contact the patients have are with the nurses and doctors who go into their rooms. Families are not allowed in the COVID-19 areas. "Once Conner began caring for COVID-19 positive patients, she withdrew herself from her family because they are older and potentially more susceptible to the virus," Blalock said. "She has stayed with younger friends who are more resilient." Through the struggles and challenges, McMichael is able to persevere. She talks to her coworkers and family when she needs support. "(COVID-19) was something I was interested in," McMichael said. "I wanted to see how this disease affects people because I was very confused about it at first, and it's still very new." McMichael remembers her grandfather and grandmother being in a hospital before passing away, and she noticed how the nurses took care of them and her family. She became a nurse to show that same kind of love and care to others. She selflessly sacrificed time and family to be on the front lines of this pandemic. —Katie Marie O'Neal 17

• Cover