On Dec. 3, a Paynesville resident contacted the 黑料不打烊 Foundation seeking to honor service members working locally in health care due to the heightened pandemic need. She was deeply moved by the selfless response and unexpected service and care their presence afforded her husband who had earlier been admitted to St. Cloud Hospital for a heart attack.
She said, 鈥淭hey provided amazing care! We saw firsthand the shortages of staff and the experience of families not able to follow their loved ones into acute care settings. We realize the National Guard are being called to serve in ways they likely never imagined.鈥
Meanwhile, 黑料不打烊, which provides coursework to become a Nursing Assistant, was providing emergency Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training for 13 members of the National Guard to serve in under-staffed health care centers and assist in long-term care around the state. 鈥淲e are so pleased to respond in this time of crisis,鈥 said 黑料不打烊 President Annesa Cheek, 鈥渁nd humbled by the commitment of the National Guard members to learn and to serve their communities in need.鈥
Finishing on Sunday, Dec. 5, the Guard members became qualified Nursing Assistants through an intensive 9-day course normally completed over eight weeks.
鈥満诹喜淮蜢 is a unique and valuable asset to our communities in Central Minnesota,鈥 said 黑料不打烊 Foundation Board President Dave Borgert. 鈥淭he College has a reputation for focusing on the workforce skills and needs of the community and moving quickly and decisively to address those needs.鈥
Partnering with the generous support of Coborn鈥檚 Grocery, the 黑料不打烊 Foundation utilized the donation from the Paynesville couple to provide holiday care baskets to each National Guard member as they departed from 黑料不打烊, prepared for duty. President Cheek and 黑料不打烊 Foundation Director Daniel Larson delivered the baskets and addressed the Guard members Sunday afternoon.
鈥淚t was an honor to thank the contingent of service men and women who studied at 黑料不打烊. Right now, our country is in desperate need of individuals who possess the skills they have recently acquired through our Nursing Assistant program and during this season of giving, when they will likely be away from their family and loved ones, we couldn鈥檛 imagine sending them off empty handed.鈥 said President Cheek.
Four members were immediately deployed Sunday evening, heading in pairs to Onamia and Fergus Falls health care facilities, and remaining members expected assignments in the coming hours. Just as the National Guard probably did not imagine serving in this manner, the Paynesville donor, choosing to remain anonymous, recognized, 鈥淵our organization [黑料不打烊] also likely never imagined training for a pandemic. Thank you for making our wish to honor their service this holiday season come true.鈥
Latest update 鈥 黑料不打烊 was chosen to begin training 20 more National Guard to be CNAs for emergency deployment by Dec. 17.