By Shelley Swift | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — Despite the chaos, uncertainty and anxiety brought on by the pandemic, a lot of good things are happening in Hancock County. Random acts of kindness. Feats of selflessness. Compassion for others. This is another in an occasional series of stories that will highlight some of the unsung moments of kindness that are bright spots in our ordeal.
Car dealers provide vehicles for Healthy365
With local transportation options drying up in light of coronavirus concerns, Healthy365 has stepped in to assist those in the greatest need of accessing food and health care.
From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, the nonprofit is offering rides to those in need of medical treatment, lab work or food assistance.
To aid their efforts, two Greenfield car dealerships — Inskeep Ford and Dellen Automotive Family — have donated the use of vehicles.
“Thank you Jeff Inskeep and Nick Dellen for loaning… these fantastic vehicles so we are able to provide transportation and emergency food delivery for those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic,” read a recent Facebook post by Healthy 365.
The initiative, a program of Hancock Health, is designed to address the community’s overall wellness. To request transportation, call 317-468-4231.
Florist brightens health-care workers’ days
It’s times like these when flowers can be particularly uplifting, and Penny’s Florist in Greenfield has been doing its part, staying open for deliveries and curbside pick-up.
But with walk-in sales curbed, owner Denna Gundrum found herself with an abundance of spring blooms, so she sent a few bouquets to Hancock Regional Hospital to spread joy to the staff. She’s sent 14 bouquets to various departments so far.
“Business was pretty bad the first few weeks, so all staff except myself went home and filed for disaster-driven unemployment benefits, but I was still receiving amazing spring garden flowers,” Gundrum said.
“I desperately wanted to share the beautiful blooms to brighten someone’s day. Thinking of our hospital staff and realizing the sacrifices they were encountering each day, I felt this would be the perfect place to bring even a moment of joy.”
Jeep club shows support for health-care providers
A group of central Indiana Jeep enthusiasts has been driving en masse to area hospitals, dropping off food, drinks and well wishes for healthcare providers.
About 60 Jeeps were part of the procession that stopped by Hancock Regional Hospital earlier this month.
“We stopped by five different hospitals that day,” said Marty Trimnell, president of the Central Indy Jeep’rs club.
Their mission: to support health-care workers.
“We wanted to do what we could to help” said Trimnell, who said the hospital stops have been emotional for both club members and health-care personnel.
Trimnell, who works in information technology at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin, sees firsthand how hard the staff works there.
“They work long hours, and there’s not always enough food and drinks available, so we wanted to be able to help them out as much as we can,” he said.
Jeep club members keep contact to a minimum, staying by their vehicles to honk, wave and flash their lights in appreciation as health-care staff comes out to receive their food and drinks at each stop.
The club has spent the past two weekends making stops at hospitals and nursing homes — with a long line of Jeeps turning heads along the way. Fifty people were signed up for last weekend’s run, said Trimnell, who lives in Franklin.
At their stop in Greenfield earlier this month, 20 to 30 workers came out to wave at the group lined up behind the hospital.
Trimnell suspects the group will revisit Hancock Regional once it has cycled through the other remaining hospitals in the region.
“We started this group with $50 in the bank, and because of people funding us and helping out we’ve had probably a couple thousand dollars donated so far,” said Trimnell, adding that Costco has been the biggest supporter.
“It does your heart good to help the people who are doing so much for us on the front line and to show them your appreciation,” he said.
