Last week, faculty, staff and learners shared notes of gratitude to those on the front lines of patient care. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Messages and other shows of support have poured in from across the community, as well. From first responders to local and global businesses, from patients to Ann Arbor residents, individuals and companies have reached out to say “thank you” in many different ways.
The most visible sign yet happened last night, when public safety agencies from across the region participated in a vehicle procession. More than 50 fire trucks, police cars and other first responder vehicles paraded from Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti. The drivers of the vehicles turned on their lights with no sirens, and remained in their vehicles – per the Stay Home, Stay Safe initiative — as a thanks to the medical community.
“We just wanted to send our support and solidarity to health care workers,” said Mike Kennedy, chief of the Ann Arbor City Fire Department. “We can’t thank those on the front line enough. They are literally life savers and we want them to know that we’re all in this together.”
In previous days, local restaurants also delivered meals, Coca-Cola distributed soft drinks, Girl Scout cookies were passed out to various units and Toyota delivered face masks to the organization’s donation center and those serving on the front lines. Additionally, Michigan Medicine received tens of thousands of supplies from community members as part of an ongoing donation drive, and the U-M Association of Chinese Professors donated more than 36,000 much-needed items.
In response to such support, Michigan Medicine has set up a philanthropic fund. Contributions will support additional staffing to care for patients, the purchase of equipment to care for patients, the establishment of more drive-through COVID-19 testing stations, emergency needs for front-line workers, and a broad range of emerging opportunities to advance patient care and research.
Read more about our community coming together, including a sampling of the heartfelt messages that have been sent, in Michigan Medicine Headlines.