11 minute read
Stories of Service
To prepare for the possible surge of Covid patients, we hired a new nurse practitioner, Samantha Howard, NP, to help in our Spanish Fork office with our Urgent Care and she has been a lifesaver. If we hadn’t had her I don’t know how we would have gotten through this. Our Urgent Care volumes have increased by 50% and some days spiked to as much as double previous averages.
To double the number of patients you see in a day is not easy. She has done it with a smile on her face and given every patient her full attention all the while knowing that she’s got a bunch more patients stacked up behind anxiously waiting. Thankfully most people have been respectful and appreciative, even if wait times have gotten long at times. Sam and her medical assistants have been real troopers to keep up with the urgent care needs of our community. ~Aaron L.
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While I was visiting my aunt in Oregon, I went to the grocery store and I saw something I have never seen before. As I was walking in, I heard a woman yell to me from her car. I walked over and found an elderly woman and her husband. She cracked her window open a bit more and explained to me nearly in tears that they are afraid to go in the store.
They asked me if I would shop for them and I happily obliged. I felt so good and happy being able to do something for someone else that I slipped their cash in one of their bags as I put them in their trunk on my way out. After coming home, I haven’t seen anything like that, but I hope that if I did, I would jump at the chance to serve. ~Becky M.
My 21-year-old daughter was in line at the Springville Reams behind a large, down-on-its-luck family that was buying top ramen and a lot of things like that. They had a large amount of stuff and were about $30 short after trying all their credit/debit cards. The teenage kid ringing them up said, “Oh it finally went through,” and after they left, she watched him reach into his pocket and put cash in the till to make up the difference. She was so very impressed with this kind young man especially when he seemed embarrassed and didn’t want any acknowledgment. ~David S.
I was rushing out of the store like usual as I had somewhere to be and noticed an elderly couple sitting in their car. I stopped and watched them for a while and decided to come up to them and knock on their window. They only rolled it down a small crack and stated that they were afraid to go inside for fear of being exposed to the virus.
I had a cart overflowing with groceries, it’s what happens when you have four growing boys at home, and so I asked them what they came to the store for today. They reluctantly told me that they didn’t come here for much, but I had the milk and bread and a couple of other things on their short list. I asked them if I could give them to them. They said yes and I put them in their trunk and went my way.
It was so nice to see the relief on their faces as I walked away. I didn’t want to go back inside because it was a madhouse, so we went without some staples for a few days. It was worth it and a great lesson for my boys. ~Jane G.
I was in line at Family Dollar. There was a teenage or young adult boy a couple people in front of me in line. He had a handful of items. Nothing frivolous looking. Some cleaning products and maybe some food.
When the cashier told him his total, he asked how much it would be if she took one item off. Then two. He kept asking until he got the total down to something he could afford. He looked apologetically back at the people in line behind him. Then paid and left.
The man right behind him in line asked the cashier to add the left behind items to his bill then ran outside to tell the young man to hang on a second so he could give him the rest of his items. So simple but so sweet and uplifting. ~Jessica P.
I was shopping for some special Christmas cookies in Salt Lake and, when I got to the register, realized I’d left my wallet at home. I found someone in line that had Venmo, and she agreed to pay for my purchase, and I would reimburse her via Venmo. After she paid, she refused to give me her Venmo handle and simply said, “Merry Christmas! Pay it forward.” A short time later I was able to pay the
grocery bill of another woman with small children as prompted to do so remembering what the kind woman had done for me. ~Joe M. - Maple Creek HHH
Hello friends! This year has been a whirlwind for everyone I think we can agree on that, with that being said our sweet elderly folks have especially struggled in the nursing homes with not being able to see family and friends. The holidays have been especially hard on them and we thought of a way to brighten their spirits just a little this Christmas season.
We’ve left a wrapped Christmas box here at the Santa Queen for anyone who would like to drop off a Christmas card that we can deliver to the facilities in the community. This would be an awesome opportunity to let them know they are loved and thought of this holiday season! ~Kani L.
We live in such a great community! We got a knock on our door tonight and a family gave us these chocolates just because they love our Christmas lights! Thank you!!! It made our night a whole lot brighter! ~Kendra H.
A friend just shared that an elderly neighbor came to her house and asked her husband to turn on the Christmas lights because, “there’s so much darkness and scariness in the world now.” So, there are bright dancing Christmas lights now on in their neighborhood. ~Lisa R.
My landlord sent us the kindest letter stating that he realizes that service and hourly workers are being hit hard by social distancing and government restrictions. Because of this, he said that he would not be collecting rent in April.
I ran across his Facebook post later that stated, “I ask any other landlords out there to take a serious look at
your own situation and consider giving your tenants some rent relief as well.” I’ve never been more impressed with a landlord before in my life. I am overcome with gratitude because we really needed the help. ~Maggie B.
I work at the Payson Costa Vida in the drive thru. There is a young man (I don’t know his name) that comes through about once every two weeks. Each time he comes he pays for his food and then pays for the person behind him. He has paid from $10 to $60 for someone else’s food without even a second thought on the price. He is a very generous and kind young man. We need more people like him in the world. ~Meia J.
Many of us are asking what we can do to help those who will be hurt financially during this difficult period. Most of us will probably receive a stimulus check in the near future.
I suggest that those who will not be losing income and are fortunate enough not to have a need for these funds, consider donating them to a local organization that provides for the needy, a family that is struggling or a local small business that is fighting to survive.
I have donated mine and I hope you will do the same. ~Nancy T.
I am 78 years old and my wife is 69. We drove to Costco to pick up supplies, including toilet paper. We walked with our cart to the paper goods aisle just in time to see the last package of toilet paper placed in a cart. As we turned to leave, a beautiful young lady, probably 25 or 26 years old, asked us if we needed toilet paper. When my wife told her yes, she said, “we don’t need this” and handed us the bundle of Costco toilet paper she was holding.
I will never, ever, forget that act of kindness. That woman will one day stand before her maker and hear the words “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these…you have done it unto me.” ~Robert T.
Wanted to take a moment to recognize My husband. It is absolutely the sweetest thing on earth to see him take care of our customers the way he does. Today him and another customer took the time to walk this gentleman to his truck. Shawn knows all our customers names and their children’s.
This gentleman’s name is Olie and we absolutely love seeing him every time we do ~Stacy A.
On Saturday, October 3, 2020, the earth wept for the loss of a great man, Nathan Russell Carr.
Despite the heroic efforts of his co-workers and medical professionals, Nate passed away as the result of injuries sustained in a tragic construction accident.
He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Eyre Carr and their five children.
They were nominated by a neighbor for this Best Christmas Ever. When
talking with extended family, they said that the best thing for them would be a trip to Hawaii. This created a bit of trepidation for Jennifer Yorgensen of KW Westfield Real Estate, so she partnered with Academy Mortgage in Salem and the Spanish Fork Fire Department to help her provide for this family.
They took to the streets in partnership with the fire department, Buddy the Elf, Santa Claus, a bunch of other helpers, and also the recipients of last year’s BCE to collect funds in a boot drive in front of the Spanish Fork Fire Department. “The most touching part of the day was watching people stop, not knowing the reason, and donating. Not asking any questions, just giving out of the kindness of their hearts,” Jennifer said.
At the start of the day Jennifer shared that she, “was sad because of Covid that we couldn’t do the party we usually do. I was bundled up, in the snow, collecting money and I was kind of dreading that part, but the amazing thing is even during Covid, people pulled over and were all smiles. People want to help, and people want to give,” Jennifer shared.
The chosen night arrived with sirens blaring and a motorcade of fire trucks and ambulances, they came at night with a crowd gathered at the home. The family was presented with a fire truck full of presents, laptops for the kids, a Dave Ramsey course with a $1,000 completion bonus, a health class with a bonus of another $1,000, and a trip to Hawaii for the wife, five kids, and her parents. “Despite what you see on the news and read on social media, there are so many good people in this world, and it’s awesome to be able to witness that and be a small part of that tonight.” Kendrick Hair Spanish Fork Volunteer Fire
When Jennifer was getting ready to leave, Stephanie came up to her and let her know that, “Next year, I’m going to join you and I want to help.” Jennifer is hoping that this kindness snowballs and that they’re able to help two families next year. ~Jennifer Y
During the summer, one of my best friends was desperately searching to find a place to live. She’s a single mom and was under a great deal of stress from many different fronts, including finding a place to live. Just at the end of August, she found a place she could move into right away. The challenge was that she needed to get all her things from the rented storage unit to the house before Monday, and it was Saturday, and she could not find anyone to help her move besides me. The cost of an additional month’s rental fee was beyond she could afford, not to mention completely unnecessary since she had a place to move everything into.
With no warning, I reached out to several of my friends, and three of them made themselves available right away. With only 2 pickup trucks and a small SUV, we loaded and unloaded from the storage unit to her new-found home all day. The task was long, tiresome, and overwhelming - something that would typically take 2 days if done by just a few such as us. In sacrificing their day and evening, we were able to move everything out of the unit so my friend could avoid paying several hundred dollars extra needlessly.
Thank you, Pappy, Nick & Corbin! ~Dustin G
Once snow began to fall, our neighbor down the street began his regular selfless act of plowing the sidewalks throughout the entire neighborhood. He doesn’t do this occasionally, he does it every time! And he’ll spend hours doing it. I see you and I appreciate you, as do the many who probably don’t ever see you out there but enjoy having the snow removed for them! ~A Grateful Salem Resident
