Putnam County Health Department Grateful for Our COVID Volunteers
More than 2,400 hours of personal time were donated by volunteers of Putnam’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s the number of hours it would take to drive to California from New York and back – 56 times!
Since the beginning of the pandemic two years ago, these MRC volunteers have played an integral role in our response. From March 2020 through to our last COVID-19 vaccine Point of Dispensing in February, their invaluable assistance supported the health department in multiple ways – from fielding countless phone and e-mail inquiries, to providing over 25,000 COVID vaccinations.
For this dedication and commitment to helping our residents, the health department staff wishes to express its deepest gratitude and appreciation.
Some volunteers worked more than 30 PODs; others joined later in the pandemic when fatigue might have set in otherwise. Singlehandedly, one volunteer logged 174 hours, the greatest number of hours put in by one person.
Witness these examples of their committed public service: They drove to vaccine clinics in Brewster, Carmel and Philipstown in all types of weather, including snow. They reported as early as 8 a.m. and stayed as late as needed to complete their assigned tasks. They worked indoors and outdoors, sometimes in wet and frigid weather, with no complaints. They paid for their own gas, brought their meals and snacks and received no financial compensation. When we expressed our thanks, they told us they only “wanted to help” and work together to “get shots in arms.”
We will never know how many lives our MRC volunteers helped save. Their individual and collective presence was immense. Their selfless contribution of time and resources supported and safeguarded the health of our 100,000 residents and our Department of Health staff. For that alone, they deserve our respect and gratitude. This altruistic dedication spotlights a support network solidly in place and growing.
As a way to say thank you and to give back to the MRC, the health department wrote a grant proposal to provide free training to these volunteers. Notification recently came that the proposal was accepted and funded. By enhancing the training of our volunteers, we can continue to assure readiness and sustain qualifications of our volunteers.
And our residents can rest assured that we face the future armed with extraordinary human resources and volunteerism, built upon expertise, experience and perseverance.
Dr. Michael J. Nesheiwat
Putnam County Health Commissioner and the staff of the Putnam County Department of Health
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