What started off as a small idea to show support for local healthcare workers has grown into a big community effort in order to provide free meals as a “thank you” to those who are putting themselves on the line, our #HOMETOWNHEROES!
This is the fourth week that free meals have been provided for hospital and home health workers initially and subsequently for local clinics and pharmacies also.
The Webster Health Services board of directors is organizing these weekly meals. Hospital board members are chairman James Mason, Harold Whitaker, Stan Blaylock, Belinda Stewart, Thomas Browder and Lloyd Young.
“This is all about honoring and showing appreciation to those who are putting themselves on the healthcare front lines on our behalf,” Stewart said in reference to the COVID-19 pandemic. “They are critically important to this community – and they are appreciated!”
The healthcare workers enjoyed pizza sponsored by Belinda Stewart Architects and the hospital board the first week. Second-week sponsors were Schmidt’s and Jiggle’s (which served them meals from its mobile unit April 16), Belinda Stewart Architects, Sandra Dewberry Insurance Co., Murphy Medical Supply, State Farm Insurance, Sheila and Allen Murphy, Karen and Bill Shook, Stephanie Stewart, Elizabeth Bueche and Sally Carder.
Belinda Stewart Architects first posted information about the free meals on its Facebook page on April 16, and Stewart said it resulted in a great response from others wanting to help keep this effort moving forward.
Lunch and supper at North Mississippi Medical Center-Eupora, and lunch for the home health staff on April 22 were sponsored by Walthall Baptist Church and The Food Truck (Barbie Baker York), which set up in the hospital parking lot. John and Shellie Herring, Teacups and Tulips, and the hospital board of directors expanded the funding to include the local clinics and pharmacies last week.
The Eupora Rotary Club delivered doughnuts from Sugarland Donuts and More to the hospital on Thursday. Cherraye Oats, Mekayla Oats Eden and the Fannie Lou Center for Change fed the medical staff at the hospital Thursday night.
Murphy Medical Supply and the Bank of Kilmichael are scheduled to provide for healthcare workers this week.
“There are so many others who are working through these challenging times — providing deliveries, food service, groceries, fuel other forms of care and service needed to keep us all going through this challenging time,” Stewart said. “I wish we could feed them all! We encourage everyone to show your appreciation to those who are continuing to provide services. We are all in this together!”
Anyone who would like to help with this effort may contact Belinda Stewart Architects at 258-6405.
