Moose Lodge thanks ECRMC staff, first responders
EL CENTRO -- A group of volunteers from the El Centro Moose Lodge No. 1033 spent two days recently preparing dinners for nearly 150 hospital night-shift personnel along with 24 for the El Centro and Imperial County Fire Departments.
The effort began when one member texted several other members to see if there was interest in getting together to say “thank you to those who are putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the community in which we live during this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The response was enthusiastic, immediate and a planning meeting was organized. ECRMC’s Chief Strategic Officer, Cathy Kennerson was contacted and the logistics were worked out. It was decided that the recipients of the dinners would be the night shift crew since the day shift personnel had received meals from other sources.
While the Moose Lodge remains closed, Lodge administrator John Kaufman gave his OK to use the large kitchen facilities. On Thursday, 12 members showed up to season, wrap and deep pit more than 100 pounds of meat, make homemade potato salad and salsa.
Friday afternoon the rest of the meal was put together, individually boxed and bagged. Member Nannette Kniffin made a large sign on behalf of the Moose Lodge to thank and honor the hospital’s healthcare heroes, which will hang on the hospital’s communications board.
A little after 7 p. m. Friday, four vehicles loaded with the dinners left the Moose Lodge headed for the hospital where the group was met by ECRMC CEO
Dr. Adolphe Edward, Kennerson and dietary staff who all helped to unload and deliver the dinners. Dr. Edward was presented with the banner and thanked the Moose Lodge volunteers for their efforts.
ECRMC emergency room director, Judy
Cruz, thanked the Lodge on social media, saying, “On behalf of the ER crew on duty Friday night, I want to thank you all! Your generous donation of meals for all the crew was exactly what was needed during a busy shift taking care of some very sick patients.”
While the hospital and fire departments were grateful for the meals, the volunteers were equally gratified to be able to provide the meals. “While it was a lot of work, there was an incredible amount of teamwork and we had a lot of fun doing it,” one Moose member remarked.