Token of appreciation: Rotarians treat hospital staff as pandemic drags on

The staff at Kona Community Hospital recently received a token of appreciation from the Rotary Club of Kona Mauka.

Arriving at the hospital in a pink stretch limo donated by Pink Limo Kona, Rotary members set up 300 goodie boxes for hospital employees in the Ginger Cafe cafeteria for the club’s Giving Thanks to our Frontline Workers Event last Wednesday.

“It is very important to thank the hard working frontline workers for their dedication during these hard times,” said Rotary Club of Kona Mauka president Sam Johnson.

The club decorated tables and distributed 300 individual packages filled with homemade ginger spice cookies, Maui chips, Oreo cookies, Rice Crispie treats, a pen, pupu gift cards from Fish Hopper and Magics Beach Grill as well as discount coupons for Cafe Florian and Pink Limo Kona.

“Without these generous donations we could not have made this happen,” said Johnson.

“This is part of our Rotary Days of Service. November is giving thanks to frontline workers so with our club, we decided to start it sooner because we felt the need was greatly out there,” he continued. “By us doing this now, and doing both hospitals, we feel the pressure is going to be taken off of them even if it’s just 15 minutes out of the day that they can say wow, someone said thank you.”

Johnson said they plan on delivering 50 boxes to employees at Ka‘u Hospital as well.

“They’re not appreciated in the manner that they are because they are labeled with this pandemic and in my opinion it’s put them into a have to job rather than the passion that they have, he said. “If we can appreciate them and bring them back to the whole reason why they are working and involved in it, it’s worth it.”