PORTLAND, Ore. — Get loud! Make some noise! Cheer! No matter how you put it, Oregonians and Washingtonians are showing their appreciation for essential workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak every night at 7 p.m.
All the shouting, hollering and banging on pots and pans is for healthcare workers and first responders, grocery store workers, service station employees, maintenance workers, delivery and truck drivers and more.
It has become a nightly ritual as we all stay home during the pandemic. Viewers send us videos from all over the Portland metro area and beyond of themselves and their neighbors showing the love, by making some noise.
The idea caught fire after a video of people in Vancouver, British Columbia cheering for front line workers went viral. Now the evening cheers are happening in cities across the U.S. like New York, San Francisco and Portland.
Mayor Ted Wheeler also saw the movement spreading in other countries and cities around the world and started a city-wide campaign. "Let's boost the morale for all those who are struggling as well — a nightly reminder that no one is alone," Wheeler said. Portlanders can use the hashtag #PDXThanksYou to share their videos.
So, get your noisemakers ready and set your alarm for 7 p.m. and let’s show all those working hard for us how much they mean to us.