Local mission project supports COVID healthcare workers and local restaurants

By Clinton Courier | October 9, 2020 |

A dual purpose to help and to honor healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients and also to support local restaurants facing business challenges has become a special outreach mission project.

The project began when Michelle and Steve Gawarecki, members of First Baptist Church Clinton, read about the efforts of Memphis Uber driver Tammy Rivera, who gave a tired nurse a ride home from Methodist Germantown Hospital. The nurse, who was leaving a long shift and was very hungry, asked the driver if it was possible to make a stop so she could get some food. The driver was inspired to begin a service of delivering meals to nurses on COVID floors of Memphis hospitals. Various media shared the incident, and a GoFundMe resulted in very enthusiastic support.

Michelle Gawarecki recalls thinking, “We can do this.” When they approached their minister, Dr. Greg Pouncey, his response was, “Let’s do it,” which was echoed by the church’s mission committee. Purchasing meals for the project was a way to supportlocal restaurants that have suffered losses because of the coronavirus pandemic.

After the initial idea, steps fell into place for the project to become an immediate reality. An important step was finding a hospital contact, which was quickly resolved through church member Andrea Breland, BSN, RN, who works in the ICU at Baptist Hospital. Local restaurants and caterers in Clinton were approached about participating. Plans for purchasing meals and pickup and delivery times were scheduled for transporting the food to Baptist Hospital. The first meals were served in early September.

“Nurses and other healthcare workers are serving in their chosen career field, but for those working on floors dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, the extra challenge involves facing long hours, along with the dangers involved,” said Michelle Gawarecki. Often the shift hours conflict with food service hours and, coupled with thirty-minute meal breaks, the workers have welcomed the delicious meals.

“The restaurants’ responses have been wonderful,” said Michelle. So far, the local restaurants participating covering all the day and night shifts in the COVID-care sections.

“Thirteen weeks will cover every shift. The Sunday day shift is not covered so no one has to miss church to cook or deliver,” she pointed out.

Dr. Pouncey spoke of the church’s mission outreach through global efforts and also the importance of local efforts, pointing to the Bible verse of Jeremiah 29:7, which says, “Work for the well-being of the city where I have sent you to, and pray to the Lord for this. For, if it is well with the city you live in, it will be well with you.”

“Through supporting the welfare of our city, we can contribute to making it a better place for everyone,” he said, noting that the church had laid the foundation for community service through its “For Clinton Campaign.” This campaign has included first responder support, working with public servants such as the police force and firefighters.

“More participation will be helpful and welcomed,” he said. “We are hoping that other churches may want to join with us and furnish meals for healthcare workers on COVID floors at other hospitals.”

For further information, contact Michelle Gawarecki at 601-896-5642.