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When the pandemic struck, many of us found ourselves sitting at home, either working remotely or not even being able to work at all. But not everyone was in lockdown—there were the essential workers who were out there, helping push away the tide of the coronavirus by working onsite.

Now, these people aren’t just medics, police, firefighters, grocery store employees, and pharmacists. As lockdown conditions were gradually lifted, people like restaurant workers, barbers, Uber drivers, and many others returned to work, risking getting infected, but also helping the world adapt and becoming essential workers in the process.

And even though, sad to say, the companies and institutions that these people represent were rarely actually thankful for the work they do, it’s the internet that showed just how much we should be appreciative of essential workers and how awesome they are despite the harsh circumstances.

Bored Panda has collected some of the best and most wholesome posts and stories about essential workers and why they’re awesome in appreciation of their hard work and dedication. We invite you to read through them below, and, while you're there, why not vote and comment on the ones you liked the most!

#1

When The Kindergartners Learn Sign Language So That They Could Wish Their Deaf Janitor A Happy Birthday

When The Kindergartners Learn Sign Language So That They Could Wish Their Deaf Janitor A Happy Birthday

joshuaa_18 Report

#2

When Your Barber Was The Reason Why Someone's Last Days Seemed Like The Best Ones

When Your Barber Was The Reason Why Someone's Last Days Seemed Like The Best Ones

bella3774 Report

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kha_duong_1 avatar
K.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is part of the reason why I don’t mind being so cheesy. ❤️❤️

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#3

When Your Uber Driver Takes You To The Hospital And Ends Up Keeping You Company Because Your Family Is Out Of State

When Your Uber Driver Takes You To The Hospital And Ends Up Keeping You Company Because Your Family Is Out Of State

super_slide Report

#4

When The School Bus Driver Gets A Bunch Of Valentine's Candies And Cards For The Kids He Drives Daily

When The School Bus Driver Gets A Bunch Of Valentine's Candies And Cards For The Kids He Drives Daily

zaynthelegend Report

#5

When Your Amazon Courier Also Brings Back Your Trash Cans That Have Been Knocked Over And Pushed Away By Strong Winds

When Your Amazon Courier Also Brings Back Your Trash Cans That Have Been Knocked Over And Pushed Away By Strong Winds

itsRichHill1 Report

#6

When Post Couriers Take A Slight Detour On Their Route To Make A Girl's Birthday That Much Better

When Post Couriers Take A Slight Detour On Their Route To Make A Girl's Birthday That Much Better

Mrs_ConCon1787 Report

#7

When Road Workers Find Time To Explain To The Neighborhood Kids How Roads Work

When Road Workers Find Time To Explain To The Neighborhood Kids How Roads Work

iBleeedorange Report

#8

When You're On Your First Day Of School, Nervous As Heck, And The Bus Driver Holds Your Hand Throughout The Entire Trip So That You Would Feel Comforted

When You're On Your First Day Of School, Nervous As Heck, And The Bus Driver Holds Your Hand Throughout The Entire Trip So That You Would Feel Comforted

S4ndy_m4n Report

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#9

When The Elementary School Bus Driver Asks Every Kid On The Bus What They Want For Christmas And Then Proceeds To Fulfill Everyone's Wish

When The Elementary School Bus Driver Asks Every Kid On The Bus What They Want For Christmas And Then Proceeds To Fulfill Everyone's Wish

wj7_02 Report

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catherrera15 avatar
Cecilia Herrera
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God Bless You dear man. You really know how to make your students feel special.

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#10

When You Treat Your Janitors Like Human Beings And Be Their Friends

When You Treat Your Janitors Like Human Beings And Be Their Friends

mhdksafa Report

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#11

When You Come Out To Your Very Religious Family Who Decide You're Not Welcome To Family Holidays, And Then Your Professor Invites You Over

When You Come Out To Your Very Religious Family Who Decide You're Not Welcome To Family Holidays, And Then Your Professor Invites You Over

snooppii Report

#12

When Your Cashiers Don't Know The Meaning Of Fear And Tackle A Big Spider Head-On

When Your Cashiers Don't Know The Meaning Of Fear And Tackle A Big Spider Head-On

STOPFLEXIN Report

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catherrera15 avatar
Cecilia Herrera
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good for him that he helped her out and "rehomed" the spider, instead of squishing it.

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#13

When Actual Human Beings Work In The Service Industry And Make You Feel More At Home Than Real Home

When Actual Human Beings Work In The Service Industry And Make You Feel More At Home Than Real Home

sarahhhclifton Report

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catherrera15 avatar
Cecilia Herrera
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With this kind of extra service, you make your customers feel so welcome, that you probably have another customer for life.

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#14

When Waiters Walk The Extra Mile To Show Support For A Post-Op Client

When Waiters Walk The Extra Mile To Show Support For A Post-Op Client

NHLFlyera Report

#15

When The Local Police Bring Your Drunk Self Home

When The Local Police Bring Your Drunk Self Home

BigBigPanis Report

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rene_3 avatar
René Kok
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is how defunded police looks like, not jailing everybody. Most British police officers are not routinely armed

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#16

When Before Every Chemotherapy Session, A 9 Y.o. Stops At A Starbucks Where The Employees Give Him A Pep Talk

When Before Every Chemotherapy Session, A 9 Y.o. Stops At A Starbucks Where The Employees Give Him A Pep Talk

Thund3rbolt Report

#17

When Your Local Bus Driver Decorates Every Halloween And Gives Out Candy

When Your Local Bus Driver Decorates Every Halloween And Gives Out Candy

Roger_JCT Report

#18

When Your Neighbor Is A Paramedic And The Entire Neighborhood Gathers For A Round Of Applause For All The Hard Work They Do

When Your Neighbor Is A Paramedic And The Entire Neighborhood Gathers For A Round Of Applause For All The Hard Work They Do

ledgendary Report

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catherrera15 avatar
Cecilia Herrera
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for making their day. A show of appreciation, can really lift a person's spirit when they are under so much stress.

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#19

When Your Local McDonald's Sends Their Condolences Regarding Your Late Grandpa Who Used To Frequent Said McDonald's

When Your Local McDonald's Sends Their Condolences Regarding Your Late Grandpa Who Used To Frequent Said McDonald's

hovee Report

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catherrera15 avatar
Cecilia Herrera
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know this was greatly appreciated by his family. When my grandma died, her favorite waitress from a restaurant she frequented, took off and came to the funeral. We were very touched to see her there.

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#20

When The Nurses Work 36-Hour Shifts With Just One Protective Suit And Are Soaking Wet After They Take It Off

When The Nurses Work 36-Hour Shifts With Just One Protective Suit And Are Soaking Wet After They Take It Off

zirhli0 Report

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#21

When The Neighborhood Garbage Collectors Show Some Love For A Boy And Get Him A Swag Bag With A Garbage Truck

When The Neighborhood Garbage Collectors Show Some Love For A Boy And Get Him A Swag Bag With A Garbage Truck

Natalie Brenneman Report

#22

When It's A Pandemic And This San Pedro Librarian Pedals With Books On A Mission To Gather Young Readers

When It's A Pandemic And This San Pedro Librarian Pedals With Books On A Mission To Gather Young Readers

abc7 Report

#23

When You're A Kid And You Ask A FedEx Courier To Bring Your Skateboard To Tony Hawk, And He Does, And Then Tony Decides To Send One Of His Back

When You're A Kid And You Ask A FedEx Courier To Bring Your Skateboard To Tony Hawk, And He Does, And Then Tony Decides To Send One Of His Back

jraharris89 Report

#24

When You Try Your Best And Your Teacher Appreciates The Effort Instead Of Being Harsh

When You Try Your Best And Your Teacher Appreciates The Effort Instead Of Being Harsh

kerszr Report

#25

When Your Bus Driver Takes The Time To Drive You Personally Home Because You Got Lost

When Your Bus Driver Takes The Time To Drive You Personally Home Because You Got Lost

plankisonfire Report

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Karin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was waiting at a bus stop in the pouring rain not knowing my bus had been diverted when a bus on its way back to the garage at the end of the driver's shift stopped to pick me up. The driver explained what had happened and then went out of his way to drive me to a spot where I could get a working bus to my destination. ❤️

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#26

When Your Postman Leaves A Package As Well As Some Doggie Treats For Your Good Boy

When Your Postman Leaves A Package As Well As Some Doggie Treats For Your Good Boy

[deleted] Report

#27

When A 62 Y.o. Doctor Of 30+ Years Decides To Volunteer At The Covid Unit Because He Never Thinks Of Himself—only The Patients

When A 62 Y.o. Doctor Of 30+ Years Decides To Volunteer At The Covid Unit Because He Never Thinks Of Himself—only The Patients

Joncoll914 Report

#28

When Your Barber Makes Sure The Homeless Live In Style

When Your Barber Makes Sure The Homeless Live In Style

allthekos Report

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iseektheunvanquishedtruth avatar
zims
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People treat you better when you look better, that's a fact. Having a fresh cut and shave can drastically improve this man's chances of getting help and finding a way out of his homelessness.

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#29

When Your Mailman Is An Ex-Soccer Player And Your Daughter Starts Asking For Daily Tips On It, Which Turns Into A Soccer Lesson

When Your Mailman Is An Ex-Soccer Player And Your Daughter Starts Asking For Daily Tips On It, Which Turns Into A Soccer Lesson

TwoSixtySix Report

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catherrera15 avatar
Cecilia Herrera
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She'll always remember your soccer tutoring as she develops her skills. Way to encourage tomorrow's champions!

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#30

When The Bus Driver Vibes With A Child And Moves To "Shake It Off" By Tailor Swift

When The Bus Driver Vibes With A Child And Moves To "Shake It Off" By Tailor Swift

sherlock_er Report

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#31

When You're Quitting A "Big Box Mart" Job And The Company Doesn't Acknowledge It, But The Baker Does

When You're Quitting A "Big Box Mart" Job And The Company Doesn't Acknowledge It, But The Baker Does

kmonizzle Report

#32

When The Nurses At The Hospital You Give Birth At Mails You The Ultrasound Of Your Baby After You Left It In The Labor Room, Plus Congratulatory Greeting Card!

When The Nurses At The Hospital You Give Birth At Mails You The Ultrasound Of Your Baby After You Left It In The Labor Room, Plus Congratulatory Greeting Card!

tesss_tickles Report

#33

When A Restaurant Is Extra Thankful For Your Patronage

When A Restaurant Is Extra Thankful For Your Patronage

ChineseRoughDiamond Report

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deborahbrett_1 avatar
Deborah Brett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope this is referring to supporting a chinese takeaway, and not covid-denialism dine-in.

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#34

When Your Cashier Gives You A $1 Discount Because That's Exactly How Much You Need For Those Matador Bites

When Your Cashier Gives You A $1 Discount Because That's Exactly How Much You Need For Those Matador Bites

PrematurePatriot Report