During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals saw a tremendous uptick in generosity of community members gifting them everything from discounted services to free lunches. Just as the pandemic waned, so too did donations but for Dawn Hastings and her fellow congregation at House of Praise for All People in Greenwood they wanted to ensure that healthcare professionals continued to feel seen and loved. Thus stemmed a food donation that happens the last Tuesday of every month to the team in the Bayhealth Emergency Department, Sussex Campus.
In 2022, Dawn asked her pastor, Robert Muncy, and the House of Praise congregation if they had an interest in sharing God’s love across the community through gifts of food. She inspired a heart of giving that’s spanned more than two years and included donations to Milford Police Department, 911 Center in Kent County and multiple nursing units at Bayhealth Sussex Campus.
“For all of us as Christians, it’s important to let people know that God actually sees you,” said Pastor Muncy. “No matter how bad your day is, you are seen and loved.”
The church places an announcement in their weekly bulletin about their “Community Blessing,” and the congregation responds with generosity. Everything from soups, snack bars, sandwiches, fudge, fruit, and other grab-and-go items are donated with the intention of delivering them to the Emergency Department.
“Rumor has it that staff have been seen with their noses pressed against the windows waiting for us to come,” said Steve Hastings. “We enjoy seeing how happy the donations make the team.” And the church volunteers are always met with a friendly smile by Bayhealth Patient Advocate Joan Myer who has been instrumental over the years in helping coordinate deliveries.
The Bayhealth Foundation has thanked The House of Praise congregation with notes of thanks and continues to be grateful for the generosity. “It’s nice to see our team members in the Emergency Department being cared for in this way by members of our community,” said Bayhealth Foundation President Lindsay Rhodenbaugh, DMin. “We’re grateful for the generosity of the church’s congregation.”
Dawn says she doesn’t see an end in sight for the donations. “In the ER, the team is coming into contact with patients who may be experiencing their worst day,” said Dawn. “I can’t do a lot about that, but I can show love and support of the ER team through food.”
The House of Praise for All People welcome others in the community to donate items that they can hand deliver to the Bayhealth Sussex Campus. “When you’re giving, you feel better about yourself, and the people you’re giving to receive a blessing,” said Pastor Muncy.
Visit Bayhealth.org/Foundation to learn about ways to celebrate and honor healthcare professionals through monetary donations.
