As the mother of an emergency room doctor, this is a very worrying time for Sarah Kavoosi.

The Aurora realtor regularly checks in with her son, Kaveh, when he's finished his shift at Alliston's Stevenson Memorial Hospital. She hears of the challenges they face, and knows how hard it can be for frontline workers to clear their heads at the end of the herculean shifts each of them are being asked to carry out each day in the fight against COVID-19.

In times like these, there is little else one can say but “thank you,” but Ms. Kavoosi, a broker at Re/Max Hallmark York Group Realty, has taken her thanks to the next level, helping distribute dozens of lawn signs to help every day residents do just that: say thanks and encourage everyone to do their part and stay home.

Ms. Kavoosi's signs have become increasingly prominent across Aurora as individuals look for ways to spread the poignant message. Initially popping up on lawns in the Kennedy Street West area before spreading onto neighbouring streets, they can now be found all across Aurora in a show of solidarity.

“I just felt I needed to express myself in any way I could to show my gratitude not only to my son but everyone who works on the frontlines,” she says. “We just have to stay home and as we are watching things from a distance, I wanted to be able to do something to help. It makes them feel better to know that we are aware of the work they are doing.”

Coming up with the design, Ms. Kavoosi partnered with Signs in the Making, located on Industrial Parkway South, to print several signs which she then distributed to her real estate clients throughout Aurora. Once they were printed, she secured the signs from curbside pickup, spraying each one with Lysol before loading them in her trunk for distribution.

Now, as the popularity of the signs continue to mushroom, Signs in the Making is now taking orders directly, using Ms. Kavoosi's template to keep paying it forward. The result is a way to spread a positive message while, at the same time, supporting a small local business.

“At first, the feedback I got was from people working in the frontlines or those who knew somebody on the frontlines and they all wanted to show their gratitude,” says Ms. Kavoosi. “They would message me with pictures of their son working on the frontlines in British Columbia, or supporting a neighbour who was a nurse – everyone wanted to do something at this difficult time and this little gesture of support had people saying, ‘I feel better today seeing this sign on my lawn, that I am doing something to show my support.' Everyone wants to do that and this sign gives them a little bit of an opportunity to do that.

“I am one person and I don't have the time to go out and deliver more – that could be a full-time job, which I don't mind doing at all, but I think it is an achievable thing if somebody – and I do think people have to stay at home – has to go out to do the grocery run, just pick up a sign. People really want to do something. It comes from the desire of all of us in the beautiful community of Aurora who want to show our support and unity. That is so touching. It is a testament to who we are. As horrible as it is in this time and how people are feeling, it is just heartwarming the actions of everyone in the community that really helps us feel special living here.”

For more information on how to secure your signs, contact Signs in the Making at 905-713-1883. They are located at 225 Industrial Parkway South, Unit 18, and they are happy to arrange contactless pickup.

By Brock Weir