FRONT-LINE SUPPORT
Chris Menard and his son Rocco cheer on the nurses and support staff at Windsor Regional Hospital’s Met Campus on Thursday, as South Walkerville residents came out with colourful signs of community support for front-line health-care workers dealing with t
South Walkerville residents broke free of their social isolation Friday to take to the streets around the Metropolitan Campus of Windsor Regional Hospital to show their thanks and support for health-care workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Waving, signs, ringing bells, cheering and clapping, a few dozen greeted workers for their 3 p.m. shift change.
“Just to show our appreciation for all the front-line workers, hospital staff for all they are doing during this time,” said Byng Avenue resident Bruno Ierullo, who had “Thank you” written in multicoloured chalk on his driveway.
“I think it’s tremendous of them to take care of the community. They’re putting themselves at risk but at the end of the day they’re doing it for the good of all of us and they’re doing it everywhere, all around the globe.”
Ierullo’s daughter Lauren is a front-line health-care worker, a nurse, in Alberta.
“It shows our support for her as well,” said Ierullo.
Similar demonstrations of support have been taking place across Europe and North America.
Ward clerk Helga Antonelli walked past the cheering demonstrators at Kildare Road and Lens Avenue en route to her car.
“It’s nice to know that other people are thanking us and praying for us,” said Antonelli.
“It’s great. We appreciate it.” For Jordane Colagiacomo coming out to show her support was a labour of love for her co-workers.
The Ouellette Campus nurse gave birth last week and began a yearlong maternity leave just as COVID-19 hit locally.
“I don’t know what else to do to support my co-workers,” an emotional Colagiacomo said.
“Other than be out here and have a heavy heart, you know?
“I can only imagine what it feels like to walk into doing this every day and putting yourselves at risk, but that’s the oath we all took, right?
“We all pledged to take care of people.”
Although she currently works at Ouellette, Colagiacomo has worked at Met Campus as well.
“I know quite a few of them,” Colagiacomo said.
“You can only hope.
“I keep praying for the well-being of everybody that this goes away sooner rather than later and everybody complies with the rules and take this as seriously as they possibly can.”
Cheryl Carter spent an hour standing and clapping with a sign she made that read “Stay Strong. Be Kind. This too shall pass.”
“You want to keep them safe, too,” Carter said.
“It’s just nice to come out and support the community.”