Our Front-Line Health Care Workers: We Care For You Too!

Posted by IPDG Mary Turner, District 5360
They were there in the beginning, and they are still there now…
 
In February of 2020, the world changed, at least it did here in the province of Alberta when COVID-19 restrictions changed the way we interact with each other.  On Friday April 3rd, 2020, our local hospital closed their doors to outside visitors; a devastating phone call came that night cutting off my ability to care for and visit my ailing mother who had been admitted with chronic pneumonia.  My world changed and I was now entirely relying on her physician, and the hospital staff to care for her in what turned out to be the last three weeks of her life. 
 
The pandemic has consumed us.  Our front-line workers are working hard every single day throughout our communities as we continue to battle COVID-19.  Escalating numbers, stress on capacity and burnout are daily conversations.  Now, more than ever is the time to express our gratitude to those who have not taken a break, who have been there caring for our community, even when we could not be there.
 
‘Thank You’, two words that can change the world for the person receiving this message, and for the person giving it.  As Rotarians we are asked to provide ‘Service Above Self’, and this year to ‘Serve to Change Lives’.  It occurred to me that this is exactly what our front-line medical workers do. 
 
‘Thank You’, two words which will increase our own mental health and wellness as givers expressing it, and will provide a ray of sunshine, and hope to those receiving it.  Our Rotary club has partnered with our local Kiwanis Club and our local Lions Club to write cards, with messages of appreciation to our front-line medical workers throughout our community.  We will add a small treat and create grab bags for all.  I am thrilled that other groups in our community have also come forward to write cards expressing appreciation.
 
Now is the time to reach out with gratitude.  Every member is critical, included and appreciated.  When my mom passed away, I will never forget the tears in the eyes of the cleaning staff who looked after my mom’s room.
 
With every card written our reach will be expanded, and our community front-line medical HEROs will hopefully know how much they are appreciated.  This was our challenge – every person matters, can we thank them all?
 
Expand our reach we did!  Our Rotary Club of 22 members set a goal to reach every staff member of our local hospital, 328 cards.  Donated Hallowe’en candy sweetened the handwritten cards.  What if we could expand our reach to cover the Assisted Living homes, the Emergency Medical Services, the Physicians and their staff at the clinics?  What if we asked for help to do this?  When the Kiwanis and Lions clubs heard what we were doing, they were immediately onboard writing cards and stuffing bags alongside us.  Rotarians are people of ACTION, and our two Interact Clubs got onboard, other students in the schools joined in and soon we had the Girl Guides writing cards too.  Could we reach further and thank every front-line health care worker in our community?  With our Service Clubs and many others in our community we were able to hand create, and write 970 cards, we stuffed bags sporting our club logos, cards, candy and a note indicating the dozens of volunteers involved.  We were able to expand our reach from our community to include the community west of us.  Check out the u-tube link from Alberta Health Services, https://youtu.be/Mq3GCOXS_xM, and take a look at our local press coverage from “The Albertan”.
 
I am inspired by the desire of so many community members who were looking for a way to give back and say THANK YOU.  Our project provided this for them.  The response from those receiving this token of appreciation was tearful, and health care workers were overwhelmed with gratitude.  For through this service our unsung HEROS were lifted-up, thanked and appreciated.