VAN WERT – On Thursday, nurses, doctors, and other healthcare
professionals were treated to a surprise when around 100 Pizza Hut
pizzas were donated to Van Wert Health.
The donation was made possible by a joint collaboration between Straley Realty & Auctioneers, Inc. and Keister & Baker Law.
Warren Straley of Straley
Realty noted that the companies wanted to do something special for
healthcare workers who have been on the front-lines of the global COIVD-19 pandemic for many months.
"They are helping right now and giving their time," said Straley. "My wife is in healthcare as well. We know what it's like–it's tough. So we just wanted to say 'thank you.'"
Straley noted that the group also had donated to the Paudling County Hospital recently and wanted to give back in Van Wert as well.
Van
Wert Health's Director of Patient and Community Relations Ellen Rager
said that donations like this show healthcare workers that the community
appreciates them.
"We are now entering into the 10th month of
dealing with the COVID pandemic, and I love timing of this–this is
really a great pick-me-up for our staff to let them know how appreciated
they are," said Rager. "All of the extra work it takes to care for
patients during a global pandemic is astronomical."
Having a meal
provided to them is one less thing healthcare workers have to worry
about during their day as they care for patients.
Rager said that
COVID has been awful but that the community has been very supportive and
that healthcare workers have received other similar donations.
"There
is so much beauty that has come out of COVID," said Rager in reference
to the community support during the pandemic. "Being surrounded by the
community and all of the notes that we get and all of the donations have
been really heart-warming."
Pizzas were delivered to day shift at
the Van Wert Health main hospital and to the north facility. In
addition, more pizzas were delivered to night shift around 10 p.m. on
Thursday at the main hospital.