Legislators Donate Lunches for Frontline COVID Workers
| Members of the Arkansas Legislature showed their appreciation for those at UAMS who continue to work on the front lines screening and testing Arkansans for COVID-19, as well as those working to care for patients already diagnosed during the pandemic.
The effort was spearheaded by state Rep. Jamie Scott, who contacted Marcia Dunbar, UAMS volunteer coordinator, wanting to donate lunches for the drive-thru testing area personnel.
“After speaking with her for a bit, she wanted to see if there was something more that could be done, knowing how hard our frontline staff is working,” said Dunbar. “Rep. Scott took it upon herself to call fellow legislators, Democrats and Republicans, to come together to help donate lunch for each day for the week of July 20. She said everyone was more than happy to jump in.”
Each day different legislators delivered lunches at the main entrance to UAMS Medical Center. The food was then taken to different units each day. Those included:
State Sen. Joyce Elliott, state Rep. Jamie Scott and state Sen. Linda Chesterfield.
Monday: State Sen. Linda Chesterfield, state Sen. Joyce Elliott and state Rep. Jamie Scott provided 49 fried chicken lunches, along with sides like mashed potatoes and biscuits, from K. Hall & Sons Produce to drive-thru triage, and hospital wings A5 and A7, where COVID patients are being cared for.
State Rep. Carlton Wing with Stacy Williams, Carter Norman and Alisa Carlock.
Tuesday: State Rep. Carlton Wing delivered trays of barbecue pork and chicken with buns, sauce and sides like cole slaw and beans from Whole Hog to members of the ICU on E4 hospital wing, where the most severe COVID cases are being treated.
State Sen. Jane English and state Rep. Karilyn Brown.
Wednesday: State Sen. Jane English and state Rep. Karilyn Brown brought 30 lunches from Two Sisters Catering for the drive-thru triage area workers.
State Reps. Fredrick Love, Denise Ennett, and Tippi McCullough.
Thursday: State Reps. Fredrick Love, Denise Ennett, and Tippi McCullough delivered 50 individually wrapped sandwiches from Uncle T’s Deli Market, half turkey and half ham, to the ICU on the E4 hospital wing and drive-thru triage team.
State Rep. Mark Lowery and state Sen. Mark Johnson.
Friday: State Sen. Mark Johnson and state Rep. Mark Lowery provided a catering spread from Chick-Fil-A in Maumelle with several cases of bottled water and sports drinks for the Emergency Department.
Each legislator was presented with a framed poster signed by frontline workers as a gesture of thanks provided by the UAMS Auxiliary.
“Everyone I spoke with this week has been so compassionate and supporting of our frontline staff, understanding how absolutely difficult navigating this pandemic has been,” said Dunbar. “The staff has been so appreciative and thankful for the gesture, because donations have been less frequent as time goes by, and this kindness reminds our team that they are not forgotten.”