The Yellowstone Economic Response and Recovery Team hosted events Friday to present Yellowstone County health care workers with donated gift cards in honor of Health Care Appreciation Day
The group started the community campaign last week to say thank you to health care workers for their continued efforts to care for people in the midst of a pandemic.
After just four days of community donations, Steve Arveschoug, Big Sky Economic Development executive director, said $100,000 in donations and gift cards to local Billings businesses were presented to healthcare workers.
Arveschoug said the gift cards were a way for his team and the community to say thank you.
“It’s time we say thank you. It’s time we really come alongside them. We can’t physically give them a hug, but is there another gesture that we can do that says the community appreciates them doing their best to care for us and take care of us in a very difficult situation? It’s really our chance to say thank you in a really expressive way and it is just our token of our appreciation,” said Arveschoug.
While COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Billings and hospitals near capacity, Michael Skehan, St. Vincent Health Care chief operating officer, says he views this community gesture as a hug for the hard-working team at St. V's.
“The team has been working real hard the last several months doing everything they can to care for patients during the pandemic. I have already seen some of the gift cards being given out and every single associate has extended tremendous appreciation,” said Skehan.
