Taking a moment to collectively pause from the surreal moments that surround us during the COVID-19 crisis, National Nurses Day is an opportunity to get present to a true national treasure: our beloved nurses and nurse practitioners. In this heartfelt Thank You Note, we extend an outpouring of gratitude, honor and respect to nursing staff on the front lines — and all those behind the scenes that love and support them. If you ask a nurse what makes them tick, they would probably mention the satisfaction around helping people get well and stay healthy. Which is precisely why every American should take an extra beat to extend a bow of thanks and appreciation. By their very nature, nurses are humble. Nurses are selfless. And compassionate. And, highly expert. If we recall the vulnerable medical moments in our lives, we may be astounded to realize just how often their comfort and care helped navigate scary situations and carried us (and our loved ones) to safety.

Nurses, The Best Friends to Have

If you’re lucky enough to have a nurse in the family, you never have to handle your healthcare concerns alone. Even when they’re not on the job, they ARE on the job! If you’re lucky enough to have a nurse in your circle of friends, you can attest to their generosity in every way, especially tips on nutrition, mental health and well being. And if you’re lucky enough to call a nurse your friend, you get the benefit of being in life together, authentically and honestly. That may be the greatest gift of all.  

We Thank You.

Your commitment to caring for others inspires us. Your ability to consume complex information during life and death moments and spring into instant action amazes us. Your unshakeable commitment to those you love moves us. Your willingness to deliver necessary medical care to the sick and suffering, even while standing in harm’s way, saves us.

A Token of Appreciation

It’s not always easy to find ways to say thanks. Sometimes, words fail us. Some of us have a hard time speaking from our heart, for fear that our tears may overtake our voices. But, now more than ever, we want you to know that we love and appreciate you, deeply.

For those among us that are doers, like the nurses we love, here are some tangible ways you can show your love.

• Tag a nurse on social media so they can read this Thank You letter — and add our own personal message along with
• Perform a random act of kindness to someone who isn’t expecting it
• Make a donation to a health related cause in their honor
• Send a Dunkin‘, Peets or Sheetz gift card by email or text — and deliver an after-shift soothing beverage of hot tea or flavored decaf

Finding simple sources of comfort and ways to help have become standard orders of the day during COVID-19. These include things like finding the helpers (and being the helpers), giving of ourselves (and gift cards when we can) and staying safe (more to the point, staying home). Perhaps the silver lining to this incredibly challenging time will be a collective, newfound focus on resilience, solidarity and ingenuity. Remaining united and surfacing our unshakeable human spirit may well be the gifts that keep giving long after the health, social and economic pressures of COVID-19 have subsided. 

Helping Families and Communities Survive and Thrive 

The sage advice from Mr. Rogers, famed children’s television personality, would have us look for the helpers. It’s easy to find them. Just look for the drive-by parades through parking lots of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The outpouring of love, thanks and recognition to our homebound elders are amazing gifts, indeed.

Gift Cards Can Help You Make a Difference Today

If you’re searching for a way to give an affordable, meaningful gift to someone that can really use it, here are a few ideas to consider:

• Donate meals from local restaurants to feed healthcare workers through take-out or delivery services. The restaurant and your local economy will benefit, too. Here are a few restaurants to choose from (more at eGifter.com): Applebee’s gift cards, Outback gift cards (or any Bloomin’ Brand), Boston Market gift cards, Chili’s Bar and Grill gift cards, Doordash gift cards, Ruby Tuesday gift cards, Jersey Mike’s Subs gift cards, TGIFridays gift cards, or Uber Eats gift cards
• Find a local blood drive and donate much needed blood or platelets (search Red Cross locations)
• Drop off food at your local food pantry. If you can’t get there personally or want to contribute to a food donation center at a distant location, you can easily deliver groceries by sending them a Target gift card or Walmart gift card
• Encourage your local Chamber of Commerce to claim their FREE listing at OperationMainStreet.com. Doing so can have a dramatically positive impact on helping your local business community and their employees survive the economic downturn of COVID-19
• Send a gift card to purchase a vegetable garden — deliver the gift card by text or email . With both online and in-store redemption, Home Depot gift cards and Lowe’s gift cards let them purchase seeds and starter plants for vegetables and fruit that can actually feed a family
• Help them to help others! Donate fabric for masks by sending Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores gift card to the crafty people you know. The shortfall of masks for local businesses and healthcare locations can be built up with this grassroots effort.
• Call the seniors and singles in your life just to say hello. It may be the only friendly, personal voice they hear today.

Long live compassion and perseverance — the hidden gifts that have emerged from this historically significant time.

Please share your own story of optimism, healing and the human spirit. 

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