Kindness in Aktion
Tesh, Inc. Aktion Club members on Wednesday presented officials from Kootenai Health with a check for nearly $200 to cover food and beverages for environmental services workers to say "thank you" for their hard work keeping the hospital clean through the pandemic. From left: April Tarpley, Robert McRae, Matt Jenkins, Carrie Gann, Harmony Reilly, Justin Moore and Anna Mae Padgitt.
DEVIN WEEKS/Press
Kootenai Health facilities/housekeeping manager Harmony Reilly on Wednesday shakes Aktion Club Chairman Robert McRae's hand while thanking him and President Matt Jenkins for their club collecting nearly $200 to cover coffee and food for hospital housekeeping staff.
Aktion Club Chairman Robert McRae and treasurer Justin Moore man the donation table at Tesh on Feb. 10 as they collect change to buy a "thank-you" gift card for Kootenai Health housekeeping staff.
COEUR d’ALENE — Some big-hearted clients of Tesh, Inc. really know how to put the "action" in Aktion Club.
Members of the Aktion Club, a Kiwanis service club for adults with disabilities, collected nearly $200 to say "thank you" to those who work in a many times thankless job — hospital housekeeping.
"We all are here to present a check to Kootenai hospital for appreciating everything that you’re doing for the COVID and all the work you guys are doing,” Aktion Club President Matt Jenkins said.
During lunch hour at Tesh on Wednesday, the Aktion Club met with Kootenai Health human resources and facilities officials to present them with a check that will be used to purchase food and beverages from the Big Blue Coffee Co. in the Kootenai Health lobby.
The recipients of this gift are environmental services team members who clean and sterilize offices and patient rooms and keep the hospital sparkling.
“Janitorial, they keep the hospital clean," club treasurer Justin Moore said. "Doctors and nurses, they’ve got too much to do."
The club's gift will be a surprise for the team, which HR business partner April Tarpley said "will be so appreciative.
"We’re super touched that the community and this club thought of them," she said.
Aktion Club members spent a day in February collecting change from Tesh peers and staff members. They encouraged everyone to sign a "thank you" banner that will be presented to the 87-member environmental services team. The club fund and Kiwanis Club of Coeur d'Alene also contributed to the amount.
"A small number of people can impact a large number," Kootenai Health facilities/housekeeping manager Harmony Reilly said. "It feels good to be recognized. But I think what it does, it just shows what kind of community we live in. We’re really proud to work for Kootenai Health and we’re really proud of our area. This just reinforces the good part of the community."
“It was a pleasure to do it," Moore said.
"Not only that, but it was a real honor," added Aktion Club Chairman Robert McRae.
