In an effort to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of community
healthcare workers, Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper has declared the week of October 18 th to be
“Operation Appreciation.” The Mayor and City Council encourage the community to likewise use this
opportunity to show their thanks online and in person for the tireless efforts of our local health care
community.
“Since the crisis standards of care have gone into effect, health care workers of all stripes including
nurses, doctors, lab techs and even custodial and kitchen staff, have been putting in 12 hours days,
seven days a week,” said Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper. “The strain on them physically and
emotionally has got to be significant. We hope to remind them of how much their sacrifices are
appreciated.”
In addition to the proclamation, the community is invited to join with local elected officials, first
responders, business leaders, school children, families and others to show their support and say thank
you to local health care workers in person on October 18 between 6:15 and 6:45 pm.
That evening Mayor Rebecca Casper will join members of the public, first responders and the City
Council at 6:30 pm in the main parking lot, near the front doors of EIRMC, where she will present the
“Operation Appreciation” proclamation to EIRMC President Jeff Sollis.
At 6:45 pm. the Mayor and Council will join additional first responders and members of the public near
the entrance to Idaho Falls Community Hospital to present the proclamation to IFCH COO Casey
Jackman.
The gatherings will take place near the hospital entrances to coincide with the change of shifts for the
hospitals. That way well-wishers, first responders and elected officials who gather will be able to wave,
honk and share their signs and banners of thanks as hospital workers leave or arrive at the hospitals for
their workday. Those who come to participate should look for the large “THANK YOU” banners near the
hospital entrances.
“We hope families and businesses and everyone else who wants to join in will make a sign or a poster
and come down to either EIRMC or IFCH and stand with us to say ‘thank you’ to our health care heroes,”
said Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper. “We all see the news. We all know how overwhelmed our
hospitals and health care facilities have been. We just wanted a simple way to show them that we care
about them and the way that they care for us.”
In addition to the proclamation and rallies at EIRMC and IFCH, the public is also invited to share
messages of thanks, encouragement and support online through social media throughout the week. A
special Facebook frame is available on the city’s Facebook page and well-wishers are encouraged to tag
EIRMC, IFCH and their favorite health care professionals using the hashtag, #Operationappreciation.
“We intend to flood social media with messages of thanks and appreciation,” said Mayor Casper. “Local
doctors, nurses, therapists and other health care workers have really born the brunt of a tremendously
heavy workload for the last two years. Whether it is through social media, or other little acts of thanks
or kindness throughout the week, we hope everyone will take the time to say thank you in some form to
our outstanding health care workers.”
Those who wish to do even more can find excellent ideas online for simple gifts to deliver to caregivers
at area hospitals. Items like gift cards, professionally packaged foods, cushioned shoe inserts, cards and
other small tokens are welcome and could really brighten a health care worker’s day.