04/03/2020
Hope Prevails
Operation Hope Prevails
It’s no secret the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us in some way. With our five kids out of school, and the Governor urging all Ohioans to stay home, my husband and I found ourselves with a lot of time on our hands. Much of that time was spent worrying about the uncertainty of the situation, about finances, and about the safety of our friends and family who are high risk, or work in essential occupations.
About a week after the Stay Home Order was issued, I was texting with an ICU nurse who is a very dear friend of mine. She was struggling. She told me how hard it is to stay positive when each day starts to feels hopeless, and told me that many nurses are exhausted and scared. That night I lie awake in bed, unable to sleep because I felt the need to do SOMETHING.
The next morning, I told my family how I was feeling, and we decided to do something to support and encourage medical workers. Immediately, my kids went to work making signs and posters. But we still thought we could do more. My husband Jason, my friend Katie, and I continued to brainstorm. We began reaching out to a few friends who are restaurant owners to ask if they would be interested in providing meals for a shift of hospital employees. Many businesses are struggling financially, especially the service industry, but they were eager and willing to donate a few meals to the people on the front lines. We posted on Facebook, and reached out to our coworkers and friends to ask for donations for food and for care packages. We spoke to nurses in the hospitals and asked what would be helpful to ease their situation.
“Operation Hope Prevails” was born.
Immediately. we started receiving generous cash donations and offers from our friends to drop off care package items. Just two days later thanks to generous donations from a local restaurant, we made our first delivery to the ICU Department at Tri Point Hospital. We dropped off 25 meals and a half dozen of the signs my kids made. The hospital staff was overwhelmed with gratitude. Some were moved to tears. We were on to something.
The next day, we delivered 25 more donated meals for the ICU staff at University Hospitals Geauga Campus, as well as an additional 20 meals for their Environmental Services/Housekeeping Staff, and of course, more encouragement posters.
I posted photos of the kids’ signs on social media and mentioned Operation Hope Prevails. Soon after, their local school district shared the message and more students to participate with encouraging signs and notes for medical workers. Kids and families throughout all areas of Lake County started participating. Other teachers in areas across the US started responding on Facebook, and asking their students to help.
Less than one week into our project, we’ve partnered with 6 local restaurants to provide meals for over 120 healthcare workers at four local hospitals. We’ve received dozens of cookies, cupcakes and treats from individuals, and even a case of fresh coffee from our dear friends who own a coffee shop. Next week, we’re putting together 40 individual care packages containing things like bottled beverages, protein bars, prepackaged snacks, cookies, gum, candy, mints, hairbands, hand lotion, and other items for healthcare workers. We hope to put together 40 packs the following week, and even more in the weeks to follow. We’ve received monetary donations and gift cards to provide more meals in the coming days, and hope to continue until we get through this, as long as that takes.
Operation Hope Prevails represents our community. Generosity, caring, support, love, and empathy. Thank you to
Hooley House - Mentor, Clean Eatz, Ridgewood Kitchen & Spirits, Pressed Coffee Bar & Eatery, PIP Marketing, Signs, Print, and our many, many friends who continue to provide generous monetary donations, gift cards to buy meals, delicious baked goods, snacks, and awesome items to fill our care package bags. Without your support this wouldn't be possible.
If you’d like to make a donation, or find out how you can help, please visit our page or contact us at [email protected].
Be contagious, Spread Hope.💙
Membership organization to promote the professional and social welfare of the members of the bar of Lake County, OH.
