It can be depressing only hearing the public health emergency caused by the spread of COVID-19. So, when we hear of a good deed in these trying times, we want to share.
This pandemic has shed light on a different kind of hero, our healthcare workers and first responders that are at the forefront of this battle against an invisible enemy. They put their lives at stake and sacrifice time with their families to help patients recover from this devastating disease.
Healthcare workers are overworked and dealing with emotional strain every day. These individuals try to remain strong and stoic so it’s easy to forget they need our support to carry on.
A few days ago, celebrity chef Guy Fieri organized a group of friends and family, loaded his Stagecoach Smokehouse mobile kitchen, and parked his ensemble at California’s Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
His plan was simple, provide a delicious free meal to as many healthcare workers as possible in the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente Medical Center.
By the end of the day, he had served 1,200 meals from his special menu comprised of pulled pork, pasta with veggies, and a Cesar salad accompanied by focaccia with caramelized onion and Parmesan cheese.
As part of his tribute to healthcare workers, Fieri wrote a personal thank you note included with each carryout box, signed with his initials.
As he handed out meals, he made sure to take the time to speak to doctors and nurses thanking them for their service.
Photo by: pressdemocrat.com
In a video taken during the event, Fieri said, “So we have so many amazing frontline healthcare workers that are putting their lives on the line to support our community as they always do, but now it’s even more severe, this is just a way to come and say thank you.”
One of the happy lunch-goers was physician Mark Shapiro. Fieri spoke to him briefly to thank him for his efforts and called all healthcare workers, “warriors who do this day and night.”
Dr. Shapiro, in turn, expressed his gratitude for the kind gesture and said these kinds of acts have a bidirectional positive impact. “It’s all meaningful,” he added, “and it’s all valuable, and it’s all important,” said Shapiro.
Fieri is no stranger to charitable acts. Back in March, he partnered with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation to raise funds to help restaurant workers who have lost their jobs during the shutdown.
While most of us are not able to make such a grand gesture, we can all do something to pay tribute to these amazing warriors who care for us when we are most vulnerable.
Send a thank-you note to doctors and nurses or join the flash mobs that every night clap to show appreciation for healthcare workers in cities across the country.
Medical professionals chose their line of work because they wanted to help people. Every day they go to work and try to do the best they can, and they always do it with love and compassion.
Altus Infusion salutes all healthcare professionals who are on the frontlines helping us flatten the curve, saving lives, and providing comfort to patients and their families.
