Ride share: COVID-19 Group Matched Frontline Workers with Unused RVs
A Facebook group connected RV owners to healthcare workers needing to be isolated from high-risk loved ones.
COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has impacted millions worldwide. The disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, poses significant risks for adults over 65 years of age, those with compromised immune systems, and others with underlying health conditions. Before vaccines became available in early 2021, most of the population stayed indoors, wore masks, and practiced social distancing to limit exposure and transmission. Faced with daily potential exposures as they cared for those struggling with the disease, many medical professionals chose to live apart from their loved ones. However, expenses and inadequate housing or space limited health care providers’ choices. Acknowledging medical professionals’ service and high risk, one Facebook group pooled member and community resources to help keep health care providers and their loved ones safe.
RVs 4 MDs To Fight the Corona Virus, a public Facebook group with 28,622 total members as of May 2021, served as a resource to provide frontline workers with safe quarantine spaces.
Created on March 24, 2020 just days after former President Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency, RVs 4 MDs To Fight the Corona Virus still remains the only large group proactively focused on providing housing to health care providers. Communities which either provide information to the public like COVID-19 Novel Corona FACTS (29,749 members in May 2021) or patient support Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support group (19,063 members) continue to dominate Facebook. Groups that do focus on health care professionals and COVID-19 are prayer communities like the Healthcare Professionals prayer group Covid 19 SA (451 members). Unique in both its focus on healthcare providers and its call to action, RVs 4 MDs To Fight the Corona Virus encourages members to make an impact in the fight against the virus in its About section.
This group is for those needing a place to safely quarantine while working the frontlines! You can donate an RV or ask to receive one while you need shelter.
(While the interviews and statistics obtained in the article were originally obtained in May 2021, a later (September 2021) look at the group illustrates the lifespan of a successful community that organically evolves to address time-sensitive issues.)
At the height of the pandemic, members shared pictures and information regarding available RVs available.
We have a 29 foot Winnebago motorhome, with king bed and all the comforts. We live in San Francisco Bay area and would be willing to share with a health care angel. (Female, 04/07/20)
Healthcare workers then contacted members and completed the exchange in the smaller RVs 4 Coronavirus Fight Info Sharing group, which utilizes questions to limit members and traffic.
Which best describes you? 1). You have loaned your RV/camper through the RV’s 4 MDs group 2). You are receiving a loaned RV or camper through the RVs 4 MDs group?
In a post, Emily Phillips (one of the five admins) shared how the streamlined exchange of RVs in RVs 4 MDs To Fight the Corona Virus first formed.
RVS4MDS was completely run by selfless volunteers all over the country during the scariest time for all of us. We impacted the donor, the receiver, the volunteer, and the audience member… Thank you for your support and I can only imagine how many friendships have been made through the matching process of RVS and healthcare workers!! (03/22/21)
She got the idea for the RV exchange from her mother, who suggested the option due to hotel closings and limitations. Phillips credits the group’s rapid growth and immense impact to the organic nature of online communities.
It was like everybody just came together…. People needed a purpose and they got it with this organization. It was like we formed a fortune 500 company over night. (05/08/21)
Though RVs 4 MDs To Fight the Corona Virus fostered connection and friendship, as Phillips said, it also provides vital free resources for frontline workers and their family members. One member noted:
We are in desperate need of an RV!! My husband is a doctor at…We would be grateful to borrow an RV as I have asthma and my husband is so scared to get us infected. We have three sons and our youngest is 6 months old. Please please help! (Female, 04/03/20)
Medical professionals in need of temporary housing are instructed to post their need, job, and location. RV owners are similarly instructed to post a description of their vehicle, specific terms of use, and location so matches can be facilitated easily.
My renovated 5th wheel Sawyer is available again. She is located in Los Angeles, I am willing to tow up to 2 hours away North, South, or East. Thankful for this group. (Female, 04/06/20)
Donors within the community often offered up vehicles multiple times after they’d been returned and cleaned.
Available in Las Vegas, 31 ft Bounder. Just got it back from a covid nurse and ready to go again. (Male, 12/20/20)
One member commented in a post how the exchange and the ability to aid healthcare workers can be meaningful and special for donors.
We picked up the camper that my mom and step dad loaned out about 6 months ago. My mom passed away in September and this was the last of many acts of kindness she showed to others over her last life. I know this made her happy.
Often larger organizations donate multiple times. One member noted:
Hello. We own an rv rental company and helped out early last year. We are in the position now to do so again. We are in Longview Texas. Willing to let one go wherever — just delivery expenses need to be covered if it is too far. (Male, 02/19/21)
One RV owner, who requested anonymity, provides insight into how those lending out vehicles feel about the community and their efforts via Messenger.
I think it’s just wonderful what this group is doing. With all the craziness going on around us, most of us can’t do anything because we’re not medical professionals. This group, however, allows me to be part of the fight against covid. We are truly making a difference and saving lives. I can’t say enough about how unique, impactful, and amazing it is to be part of one of the only communities helping health care workers directly. (09/01/21)
RVs 4 MDs To Fight the Corona Virus’s singular focus allowed the group to help healthcare professionals, protect their families, and aid in the fight against COVID-19 by rapidly amassing over 28,000 members in just over 1 year. According to Phillips, they’ve helped home 25,000 people as of May 2021 and have gathered thousands of volunteers.
The group’s primary focus, however, has shifted in 2021. With the first vaccine (Pfizer) available to healthcare workers in December 2020 closely followed by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, more frontline workers felt safe enough to return to fully vaccinated households. The shift seems to align with a significant decrease in group activity and a decrease in September membership (28,035 members) compared to May (28,622 members).
RVs 4 MDs To Fight the Corona Virus, however, seems to be evolving with the larger society’s needs. More recently the administrators, in a post, opened up RV recipients to those impacted by natural disaster who may need more permanent solutions.
Hi all- we have a family from Louisiana who has been displaced by Hurricane Ida that is needing an RV for an indefinite period of time. If you haven’t used your RV in a while or have just decided RV’ing is not for you right now, please consider donating your RV for this family….Thank you all for y’all’s continued desire to help and for all your ongoing generosity (09/03/21)
RVs 4 MDs To Fight the Corona Virus’s focused goal and responsive members helped house thousands of healthcare providers to keep their families and loved ones safe. As the vaccines help slow and stop the population spread of COVID-19 in Spring of 2021, many responders have begun to feel safe enough to return to vaccinated households. Although RVs 4 MDs To Fight the Corona Virus’s lifespan as a COVID-19 specific group may be approaching an end, the community continues to thrive and adapt to help people.
** All photos within the article are credited to members of the Facebook Group. At their request, personal information will not be released. **
