Good Morning! Good News!
From pizza deliveries to feed hungry staff members, to handwritten notes of encouragement, and donations of personal protective equipment, the nurses at Mary Rutan Hospital said they have experienced an abundance of support flowing from the community this year while they worked on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
In recent months, representatives with the Ohio Nurses Association Union at Mary Rutan Hospital have been discussing ways that they could express to local residents their appreciation for the many thoughtful gestures they have received.
While gearing up to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, union representatives also have been making stops to hand-deliver 50 signs designed by the nursing staff to area retail stores, restaurants and other organizations as a way to say “thank you” for the community’s kindness. Many of the “thank you” signs have been put on display by the businesses as well for their patrons to see.
“You can’t even begin to imagine everything we’ve received; it has been so touching,” union representative and MRH emergency department nurse Lisa Flaute said Thursday while making sign deliveries.
“While it is impossible to thank every single person who has contributed in some way, we wanted to reach out with these signs to spread the word. It is important that the community knows how much they’ve done for us.”
Since the health crisis began in the spring, Flaute said she and her fellow nursing staff members have been “very busy with preparations and organization and getting everything ready.” Knowing that many of their other needs were taken care of was a blessing throughout that time.
The emergency department nurse, who lives in Sidney, said there were a number of restaurants and other area groups who brought in meals and special treats for the nurses and medical staff. They also received other unique and helpful gifts during that time, from T-shirts and other apparel to ear protection.
When the pandemic first began and PPE was in short supply, individuals and area groups made concerted efforts to sew face masks that were donated to the hospital. Area businesses, including paint departments, donated N95 masks and face shields that they had on hand as well.
Another especially meaningful gesture was the notes of encouragement that the nurses received, including hundreds that were penned by a local organization, along other letters written by youths from local churches.
Flaute, who has worked in the nursing field for 15 years and at the local hospital for 1 1/2 years, said as the pandemic continues, the nursing staff is “ready and fighting for your health and safety.
“We are just holding on like everyone else. It has been so nice to have the community cheering us on.”