Help Honor Big Rapids, Reed City Area Health Care Workers with Home Luminary Event

Photos and videos to be shared on Spectrum Health social media.

BIG RAPIDS, Mich., May 6, 2020 – Luminary bags with special messages of support and affection will light up the night outside of hospitals, homes and in neighborhoods Tuesday to mark Florence Nightingale’s 200^th birthday and to recognize nurses and health care workers throughout West Michigan.

Spectrum Health is asking community members to decorate and light luminary bags for special health care workers in their life May 12 at 9 p.m. to join in a reverent display of solidarity and appreciation.

Hospitals will have luminaries placed by employees, but community member luminaries should be displayed at home.

“The luminary event is a way for our communities to come together in gratitude while respecting social distancing and show our health care workers how much we appreciate their life-saving work and compassion,” said Andrea Leslie, president of Spectrum Health Big Rapids, Reed City, United and Kelsey Hospitals. “Now more than ever, nurses and all health care workers provide critical care in keeping our patients safe and healthy.”

People are asked to personalize and decorate their luminary bags by writing the name of their special health care worker or nurse along with a short message. Items from around the house can be used such as a tea light or other candles along with lunch bags, mason jars or milk jugs.

Photos or short videos of family members decorating their bags and lighting their luminaries can be shared by messaging or posting in the comments on the Spectrum Health Big Rapids and Reed City Hospitals’ Facebook page at facebook.com/SpectrumBigRapidsReedCity.

The event will culminate nursing week activities that will include a virtual Blessing of Hands ceremony Friday performed by Chaplain Israel Alvarado. Spectrum Health nurses are also receiving a special car/window decal, along with being recognized in various celebrations at all Spectrum Health hospitals.

National Nurses Week is celebrated each year from May 6 through May 12. Florence Nightingale was born May 12, 1820 and is generally considered the founder of modern nursing for her work during the Crimean War. Health Care Week is May 10 through May 16.

About Spectrum Health
Spectrum Health System, a not-for-profit, integrated health system, is committed to improving the health and wellness of our communities. We live our mission every day with 31,000 compassionate professionals, 4,500 medical staff experts, 3,300 committed volunteers and a health plan serving 1 million members. Our talented physicians and caregivers are privileged to offer a full continuum of care and wellness services to our communities through 14 hospitals, including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, 155 ambulatory sites and telehealth offerings. We pursue health care solutions for today and tomorrow that diversify our offerings. Locally-governed and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, our health system provided $585 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2019. Thanks to the generosity of our communities, we received $30 million in philanthropy in the most recent fiscal year to support research, academics, innovation and clinical care. Spectrum Health has been recognized as one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems by Truven Health Analytics®, part of IBM Watson Health^TM.

Contact:
John Norton
Corporate Communications Manager
Office: 231.592.4387
Mobile: 231.580.1079
Email: john.norton@corewellhealth.org