By Margaret E. Bradford
Rogue Gateway Rotarians fed more than 400 hospital employees Oct. 5 as part of “Operation Gratitude,” for local healthcare workers’ service to the community during the corona virus pandemic.
A “Health Care Heroes” barbecue lunch was served to Asante Three Rivers Medical Center staff by Rotarians and a few friends of Rotarians, most of whom got a food-handler’s license so they could serve burgers, franks, salads, chips and drinks. National Guard troops, deployed by Gov. Kate Brown to help the hospital staff with non-medical tasks, also joined the food line.
The barbecue was just one of several efforts Rogue Gateway made in recent weeks to cheer hospital employees who were nearly overwhelmed recently by a major outbreak of the COVID-19 delta variant in Josephine County. Rogue Gateway Rotarians have also sent cards of gratitude, posted signs of support in the hospital parking lot, and donated lunch-sized bags filled with healthy treats to the staff. Another outreach effort is already in the works expressing gratitude this time to the hospital’s leadership team.