Schuyler County Public Health held a volunteer recognition event on June 25th to celebrate the hard work and dedication of volunteers who have helped combat COVID-19 by assisting with County vaccination efforts. Speakers included Chairman of the Legislature Carl Blowers, County Administrator Tim O’Hearn, Public Health Director Annmarie F. Flanagan DNP, FNP-C, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Emily Warfle, and Schuyler Hospital Public Safety Manager Brian Gardner. The Department’s volunteers – the Medical Reserve Corps or MRC – have given more than 1,200 hours of their time helping with the clinics. The event, which was held at Clute Park, included recognition of each volunteer, a token of appreciation, and a brief lunch.
“We could have never managed all the work related to the COVID-19 vaccination efforts,” Schuyler County Public Health Director Annmarie F. Flanagan DNP, FNP-C thanked the volunteers. “We are so very lucky to have so many wonderful volunteers in our county. Saying thank you just seems so small when you look at the amount of hours that have been given by these dedicated men and women. Thank you for being so willing to work with us and make this a priority in our county.”
“For the past fifteen months our Public Health staff have worked tirelessly to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and protect our community,” shared Schuyler County Administrator Tim O’Hearn. “In our response, we quickly realized that this unprecedented public health emergency far exceeded our capacity. Thankfully, we were able to call on our MRC to supplement our response and this volunteer group of medical professionals and community members rose to the challenge magnificently. From testing and contact tracing to administering lifesaving vaccines, the MRC efforts heavily influenced our largely positive outcomes in responding to and recovering from this emergency. As a community, we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude and I am so proud to be able to celebrate their contributions and success!”
The MRC is a national network of medical and non-medical volunteers that work to improve the health and safety of their communities. MRC volunteers provide Schuyler County Public Health with manpower and technical skills during emergency and non-emergency events. They provide nursing and clerical support to Schuyler County Public Health during drills, and in the case of actual emergencies. MRC volunteers also help with community health screenings, rabies clinics, and other activities to protect the health and safety of the community. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with Schuyler County Public Health, visit http://schuylercounty.us/745/Emergency-Preparedness-Responseor call Schuyler County Public Health at 607-535-8140.
Schuyler County Administrator Tim O’Hearn
Legislative Chair Carl Blowers
Annmarie Flanagan (Right), Public Health Director of Schuyler County and Yates County, and MRC Volunteer Kate LaMoreaux (Left)
MRC Volunteer Tom Phillips
MRC Volunteers Marcia and Peter Kasprzyk
