Colorado Gratitude Project visits Penrose Hospital
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- On Monday morning, frontline workers at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs were honored for their work fighting the pandemic.
The Colorado Gratitude Project started about a month ago. It's an outlet to express appreciation for workers who have been taking care of their communities.
Rebecca Delarosa attended the event and is a respiratory therapist for Centura Health. She's spent the last two and half years working through the pandemic.
"It's been chaotic. A learning experience definitely, learning to count on each other as a team, knowing we need the support of the community," said Delarosa.
Healthier Colorado is the organization that started the Colorado Gratitude Project. They've been traveling around the state to say 'thank you,' give out prizes, and share messages from the community.
"So they can feel the love from around the state for helping get through this pandemic," said Jake Williams, the CEO of Healthier Colorado.
Hospitals are now adjusting to new variants and the way they're treating COVID.
"They’re still very busy. We’re not seeing as many COVID patients inside the ICU, which is great we want to see that, but the work continues on. We’re still here to take care of our families, our patients, our community. That work never ends for us," said Jennifer Arnold, the interim chief nursing officer at Penrose Hospital.
The healthcare workers in attendance say feeling valued can go a long way.
Right now in this state no matter where you go we have a shortage of healthcare workers, and after the pandemic, we’ll still have challenges. They need to feel wanted because they certainly are. They need to feel loved, we need to acknowledge their service because ultimately we all depend on the strength of this workforce," said Williams.
