May 7

May 7 Chamber presented Adopt a Nurse gifts to entire UNC Lenoir nursing staff

Note: Watch the kick off event below.

The Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce kicked off National Nurses Week, which takes place from May 6, 2021, through May 12, 2021, with a delivery of gifts for all the nurses at UNC Lenoir Health Care.

“We are providing over 400 bags to the nurses in the community this week,” said Craig Hill, Executive Director Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce and Vice-Chair of UNC Lenoir Health Care Board.

The project was started about two months ago and granted individuals and businesses the ability to ‘adopt a nurse’.

“We provided bags for the school nurses, the nurses at the Kinston Community Health Center, the nursing instructors at LCC, and the nurses here and also the nurses at the health department,” said Hill.

Lenoir County was the first county in the state to receive a green code on the NCDHHS County Alert Map, though it has since returned to light yellow which indicates moderate community spread.

“We want to thank you for helping us kick off National Nurses week and to recognize a precious resource here in Kinston, and all over the country,” said UNC Lenoir CEO Robert Enders. “Our nurses. The nurse’s role is an integral part of the health care system inside and outside of a hospital.”

The pandemic has highlighted the necessary role nurses play in keeping a community safe.

“They are there to provide care, advice, advocacy, and comfort to all in need,” said Enders. “This week and always we recognize and celebrate your resilience, dedication and compassion.”

When federal and state policies advised people to stay at home and avoid social settings, the nursing staff still came to work.

“A lot of times throughout this whole pandemic we’ve heard to stay at home and stop the spread,” said Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber board member Jeffrey Williford. “This was a group of people that couldn’t stay home. This was a group that was here protecting and looking out for everyone.”

The gifts followed a mayoral proclamation from Kinston Mayor Don Hardy for Nurses Week.

“I know you guys have had some long days and we appreciate everything you guys have done to keep our community safe,” said Williford.