We are a few days in to the long awaited new year. Most of us couldn’t wait to put 2020 behind us. It’s been rough on everyone, particularly because of COVID-19 but none more than our first responders and health care workers.

Progress is being made with vaccines, true, but outbreaks are still happening all over the country. Those outbreaks are pushing hospitals, health care facilities and those employed there to the absolute limit.  I was watching the news this morning about how hospitals in California are so overrun that ambulances are having to wait hours to drop off patients. What’s worse, is those paramedics and EMT’s are being told that if a patient is so bad and near death, don’t bother dropping them off at all.

Closer to home, the doctors and nurses and staff of the Tennova HealthCare system and hospitals are running on fumes too. While things might not be as bad as California and other states, they have been working around the clock treating patients both with COVID and other illnesses. But when hospitals are overflowing with COVID patients, it also puts those with other illnesses, conditions or even someone who gets into a wreck at risk of not being treated promptly or completely. Scary to think of right?

But the crew of Tennova has been busting their tails since this pandemic began and continue to do so picking up extra shifts, and no time to even eat as they take care of our community.

This is where YOU can help. An awesome co-worker of mine, Kelli, came up with an idea last night as she pondered “How can I help? What can I do?” Thus, we have “Feed the Team at Tennova Clarksville”. Kelli has set up a PayPal Pools page to take donations for the next five days. The idea is to collect funds and send food to our health care heroes.

Like when most tragedies strike, the community comes together to help. How many stories did you hear after 9/11 of police and fire stations being delivered meals and homemade goodies from the community.  And at Tennova, that was happening when this crisis first began almost a year ago. But of course, the generosity fades and “covid exhaustion” is real. We’re tired of hearing about, thinking about, dealing with it.

Here’s the thing: It’s not over. Yes, steps in the right direction are happening and there has been some amazing progress in a very short time but our health care workers are still fighting at full speed. You think you’re exhausted? Try being in their shoes. Not just physically, but mentally what they are dealing with day in and day out.

It might not sound like much, it might be a small gesture, but it’s something that we as a community can do to give back and say “Thank you…. we see you….we appreciate you…we love you…” I don’t know about you, but if someone surprised me with even something as small as fresh cookies, I know it would sure boost my mood.

So I encourage you to please give. I’ve posted the PayPal link below. There is also a Venmo option in there as well. It can be a couple bucks or a couple hundred, whatever you can share.

Help our Health Care Heroes and Feed the Team at Tennova Clarksville