Community
We Our Local Heroes 6 simple ways for families to thank frontline workers By Angie McCullagh
More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all deeply indebted to essential workers who’ve stocked and sold us groceries, tended to our health and well-being, removed trash, put out fires and educated our children. So, how do we repay the people who risk their own health to keep society up and running? 1. Make donations and tips. First, before sending muffins to hospital nursing staff or handing gift cards to phlebotomists, do a little research to find out what can be accepted. Most hospitals and medical centers do not allow personnel to accept cash or gifts. At the
University of Washington, you can recognize an employee and give a monetary gift to UW Medicine in honor of staff members (acceleratemed.org). Swedish Medical Center offers a similar program through its foundation (give.swedishfoundation.org/ covid-19). Mail carriers can accept offerings worth as much as $20, but no cash or cards used as cash, such as Visa and Mastercard. Seattle public school teachers are permitted to receive gifts from families and community members as long as those gifts don’t exceed $100 in value from a single family in one school year.
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