For the past week, members of the Health Occupation Students of America organization at CMR High School in Great Falls have been busy showing their support for healthcare workers.
"It makes me feel really good,” said CMR junior and HOSA member Chloe Clark. She and another group member spent time standing outside Benefis Health System holding up signs to show their appreciation. "Mine said 'Honk for Health Care Workers' and then another one said 'Thank You, Health Care Workers,’” Clark said.
When asked if she got a lot of honks, she said "Yeah, we did. It was really loud and it was really good."
HOSA is a group for students who want to work in the healthcare industry. The students do community service with organizations such as the fire department and county health department, and visit elementary schools to talk to students about the group. With the pandemic raging, students created what they call a scavenger hunt in which they earn varying amounts of points for doing positive things.
"I remember the first day that we started doing this. It was such a good day,” said Clark.
One of the activities is to collect items for gift bags to be delivered to healthcare workers; the official collection took place at the high school Monday.
"This scavenger hunt that they came up with and have run with has given me so much joy,” said Christi Virts, the CMR HOSA Advisor. Virts said items will be accepted through Thanksgiving, however. You can contact the group via their Facebook page. "I knew the kids would do some great things, but I had no idea of the caliber of greatness this would kind of spark in them,” Virts said.
Sparking greatness, and also hope and happiness in a time when both may be needed more than ever.
