Pictured above: Health care workers at Bayfront Health received meals from St. Pete Rising as part of its initiative to support local restaurants and health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy of St. Pete Rising
By Sophie Ojdanic
St. Pete Rising is a blog based around urban development in St. Petersburg. Its latest project is a fundraiser to support local businesses and healthcare workers through the COVID-19 outbreak.
So far, the fundraiser has raised more than $50,000, with a goal of $65,000.
The funds are being used to help health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic by providing them with meals from local businesses. As of April 12, donations had paid for more than 1,000 meals.
Sunstar Paramedics received 240 of those meals, helping to feed employees manning ambulances as well as support personnel, like mechanics.
“Having a program like this makes the employees know the community cares for them,” said Charlene Cobb, the community outreach coordinator for Sunstar. “It’s truly a blessing.”
But St. Pete Rising has served more than just large businesses.
LevMed Health is an affordable health care provider that only has two employees. St. Pete Rising made sure those employees were cared for, too.
“It’s nice to know that the community is supporting us and is reaching out to us,” said Brett Levine, the doctor at LevMed Health. “Say thank you – that goes a long way too.”
According to the blog’s press release, each meal has a note attached that reads, “Thank you for your hard work during these difficult times. Please enjoy a meal on us. We have your back.”
Both health care providers emphasized the importance of staying at home. Cobb said the easiest way to support healthcare workers is to support them from home. Staying at home prevents the spread of the virus to people around you as well as healthcare workers that may be responding to cases of COVID-19.
Cobb herself donated to St. Pete Rising after Sunstar received their meals. She said she hadn’t known about the blog before then.
“Awareness of St. Pete Rising is key in helping it be successful,” Cobb said.
Other organizations that have received meals include St. Anthony’s Hospital, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and BayCare Urgent Care.
Health care facilities across the state are facing financial repercussions due to the virus resulting in cut pay, reduced operating hours and furloughs for employees.
One example is HCA Healthcare, a for-profit hospital operator that runs St. Petersburg General Hospital and others across the state.
The company announced April 2 that some employees will only be paid up to 70 percent of their base pay for up to seven weeks, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Others were moved to areas that need support. posing another challenge for workers who told the Times the shuffling resulted in positions being too far away to be considered a feasible option.
The Times also reported USF Health may be facing a $43 million loss.
As of April 15, there were more than 22,500 cases of COVID-19 in the state and 596 deaths. In Pinellas County, there were 513 cases.To view the donation tracker or donate to St. Pete Rising’s fundraiser, click here.
Thank you for bringing awareness to this great organization and Brian Zucker’s mission!