Submitted by PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center wants to express its gratitude and appreciation to the San Juan County community. Over the past several months since COVID-19 began impacting our region, this community has never wavered in expressing its support to PeaceHealth healthcare workers.

To date, nearly 15 businesses, organizations and individuals have come forward to donate supplies, food and funds to ensure a safe, healthy and supportive environment for PeaceHealth caregivers and patients. Key facts include:

•Personal protective equipment arrived from a wide variety of generous sources — including Camp Northwester, San Juan Public Library, Friday Harbor High School, Miner’s Mix, and makers who crafted the equipment using their own ingenuity and innovation, to community members who’ve dropped off unused items discovered tucked away in their homes, to small businesses who’ve stepped forward with full cases of valuable protective equipment. Locally produced cloth face covers from Peace Island Volunteers and mask buckles from Ebb and Flow Design a local manufacturer are among the most popular items among caregivers. Cloth face covers continue to be distributed to our patients and visitors for their personal use.

• More than six businesses and organizations have provided meals, treats, snacks and beverages to keep healthcare workers nourished and energized as they’ve made sacrifices to work on the frontlines—many on an ongoing basis.

• The hospital received chocolates, treats and flowers, words of thanks and encouragement from Friday Harbor Middle School students and the children’s Roots & Shoots committee along with pizza, cookies, and lunches, lovely cards, letters and signage from the community with messages of support, which were displayed throughout the facility and on the campus. These continue to touch and inspire caregivers.

• Donors generously committed $2,000 for the COVID-19 Caregiver Heroes Emergency Fund at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center. This fund was initiated to support PeaceHealth employees who have experienced financial hardship because of the pandemic. Donations to this fund are currently being accepted.

“We are beyond grateful for the incredible support of PIMC. I want to thank everyone for allowing us to do our part in caring for our community, while you’ve been doing your part by supporting us, wearing masks, social distancing and washing your hands,” said Merry-Ann Keane, PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center’s chief administrative officer. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before. Our community has truly rallied around us to ensure that we can provide a purposeful, safe and healing environment for anyone who enters our doors.”