Monthly Archives: May 2020

Road to a Better Community – Nurses Giving Back to Frontline Workers

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Being a nurse during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is tough.? However, what is even more difficult is finding time when you?re off to give back to frontline workers.? Natalie Crawford and Lauren Bickel are the prime example of what it looks like to truly care about your community.? These two healthcare heroes are on the front lines themselves so they know first-hand the toll that this virus has not only on patients but essential workers as well.? They founded a campaign called #WECARE as a way to give back and support other workers on the front lines during their days off.? They have been raising money on social media that they use to bring to local restaurants to purchase meals and care packages.? Then Crawford and Bickel hand deliver the packages to frontline workers.

The fact that they are nurses makes this even more special because they can relate.? A small gesture like a free meal can mean the world to an employee who has been on their feet for 12-hours straight caring for ill patients.? Their #WECARE campaign has been a complete success and has garnered attention all throughout the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area.? One of the people that caught wind of it was Joel Bassam, Director of Marketing for Easterns Automotive Group.

Joel Bassam put in a call to WUSA 9 because he wanted to bring attention to both Crawford and Bickel?s hard work and also surprise them.? Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 have a partnership called Road to a Better Community where they highlight people doing excellent work in the community.? Ellen Bryan of WUSA 9?s Great Day Washington called the two ladies on a video call with Joel Bassam on the line.? Bassam surprised the ladies with a $2,500 donation on behalf of Easterns to help their #WECARE fund.? With this money, they will able to continue their mission and keep the free meals coming to the frontline and essential workers.? Please click here if you too would like to make a contribution to the #WECARE Go Fund Me.

 

To learn more about Easterns Automotive Group?s partnership with WUSA 9 and how they come together to empower the DMV community, please visit www.wusa9.com/BetterCommunity

Pay It Forward – Virtual Hugs for Heroes (Supporting the staff at Children?s National Hospital)

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The toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on the economy is one for the books. Small businesses not only continue to be impacted but so does the healthcare system. Hospitals nationwide are facing a plethora of issues as elective services are canceled. This results in a lack of finances that affects the ability to provide a safe environment for both treatment and testing for coronavirus.

For weeks now, Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC have been doing their part to help everyone they can that has been affected by this virus. They got word that Children?s National Hospital in Washington D.C. was in need of help, so they decided to step in and try to ease some of their stress. Allison Seymour was able to chat with Emily Dorosz, Clinical Program Coordinator for the Emergency Medicine and Medicine Center at Children?s via video call to discuss some of their current challenges. Dorosz informed Seymour that they are having trouble securing PPE needed for nurses and doctors due to their decrease in revenue. There is a nationwide shortage of PPE as it is so not having the necessary funds can truly prevent one from having access.

Joel Bassam of Easterns joined the video call with Seymour and Dorosz to deliver a very special message. He announced that he would be donating $2,500 to Children?s National Hospital on behalf of Easterns as part of their Pay It Forward ? Virtual Hugs for Heroes segment. People in the healthcare field already to so much to keep our lives safe that they should not have to worry about a lack of safety equipment. Please visit www.childrensnational.org to get informed about their incredible care or to find ways that you too can help.

 

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and is worthy of being recognized, Click here to nominate them.

Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/DKJWlQ5jGHk

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/pay-it-forward-community-comes-together-to-support-childrens-national-hospital-staff

Pay It Forward – Virtual Hugs for Heroes (National Nurses Day)

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National Nurses Day is celebrated in May of each year as a part of National Nurses Week. This is the time where people all across the United States come together to celebrate nurses for their hard work and dedication. Now especially, frontline workers are crucial in how our country recovers from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has killed almost 100,000 people. Many nurses and doctors are working around the clock and urging people to stay home to help flatten the curve.

Easterns Automotive Group along with their Pay It Forward partner Fox 5 DC decided to team up for something special. Maureen Umeh of Good Day DC took Fox 5 cameras with her as she visited the University of Maryland Prince George?s Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland. She was greeted by CEO, Dr. Joseph Wright along with an army of nurses. Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group joined in via video call to announce that they purchased over 100 jars of Combat Ready hand balm from Skincando for all of the frontline workers and essential staff.? Constant handwashing can leave your hands extremely dry so this moisturizer will be perfect.? The entire UM staff was truly grateful for the kind gesture.

Please continue to wash your hands, wear your mask, and practice social distancing!

STAY SAFE EVERYONE!

 

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and is worthy of being recognized,?Click here?to nominate them.

Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/pOXv853xXkc

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/pay-it-forward-frontline-workers-recognized-on-national-nurses-day

Pay It Forward – Virtual Hugs for Heroes (Providing free meals to 911 Dispatchers)

Community,

 

Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC have both been hard at work since COVID-19 hit the DMV region. The pair created a new segment called Virtual Hugs for Heroes under their Pay It Forward umbrella. The purpose of this was to highlight and give back to the frontline employees that still have to work through this pandemic. Coronavirus has certainly impacted everyone in negative ways, but several positives have come out of it too. This has given many a new perspective on things that are important in life and brought the community closer together during such an unknown time.

In celebration of hard-working men and women on the frontlines across the DMV, both Easterns and Fox 5 DC wanted to put a spotlight on a special group of individuals. They chose to recognize 911 dispatchers at the McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center in Fairfax, Virginia. These are the people that we call to talk us through an emergency and send immediate help. With so many people dying and getting ill from coronavirus, many of these dispatchers are working around the clock. Working 12-hour shifts is certainly no easy task especially in the middle of a pandemic.

The Pay It Forward team wanted to show these dispatchers their appreciation for the hard work that they continue to put in. Easterns Automotive Group purchased lunch for the entire dispatch team from Choong Man Chicken in Fairfax, VA. It was important to them every dispatcher receives a hot meal because nutrition is extremely important especially while working those long hours. The wonderful owner of Choong Man Chicken donated 500 PPE bundles to the dispatch team as well. As an organization, the staff at McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center remains dedicated to helping people in need. They are working with Communities of Trust to collect items for families. If you or someone you know would like to help this cause, please visit www.communitiesoftrust.com

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and is worthy of being recognized, Click here to nominate them.

Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/rPI_zzQd1PI

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/community-comes-together-to-provide-free-meals-for-911-dispatchers

Helping Hands – Surprising a furloughed Salvation Army Worker that continues to volunteer

Community,

 

Easterns Automotive Group and ABC 7 have teamed up once again to offer another helping hand. The pair created this segment as a platform to help those in need and worthy of being recognized in the community. Unfortunately, there are many people seeking help with over 14.7% of Americans unemployed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There are also many working on the front lines risking their health but one person in particular really stood out.

Anthony Gonzalez has been furloughed for weeks from his job at the Salvation Army in Fairfax County, Virginia but still continues to come in every day to volunteer. He loves his job and helping others so much that he didn?t feel that being furloughed should stop him. Gonzalez is a jack of all trades that hands out food to those in need and even answers the phones when people need assistance.

The reason Easterns and ABC 7 formed ?Helping Hands? is for people like Gonzalez. Technically, he could just stay home but his love for others is what’s keeping him volunteering day in and day out. It is time that he is recognized for his own kindness and generosity. Jonathan Elias and the ABC 7 crew surprised Gonzalez at work with a personal message from Joel Bassam of Easterns. Bassam and the rest of the team at Easterns were so touched that Gonzalez continues to volunteer his time that they surprised him big time. Gonzalez received a $2,000 check donation from Easterns and ABC 7 to help out with his bills during this unprecedented time. Words can not express the level of appreciation he felt.

Watch the video to see how everything unfolded.

Helping Hands, powered by ABC 7 is always looking to help out people or organizations in need that are worthy of assistance. If you know someone that fits this description, please click here to nominate them.

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/FXmspNdOAMQ

Get Up Give Back – Kindness Community

Community,

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Easterns Sponsors Get Up DC Segment

Coronavirus has affected not only the lives of Americans but millions across the nation. However, the ones directly affected each and every day are those on the front lines. Hospital workers put their lives in the line every day to care for these sick patients who are still highly contagious. This inspired Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 ? Get Up DC to join forces for a very special edition of Get Up Give Back.

Five women from the Spring Valley neighborhood in Washington D.C. came together to form the Kindness Community. They are raising money to buy food from local restaurants to feed hospital employees during this pandemic. According to them, all of the doctors and nurses that they have fed thus far have been extremely appreciative. They have fed about 1500 people to date. A small gesture like a free meal can mean the world to someone working hard around the clock.

Both the teams at Easterns Automotive Group and Get Up DC were so impressed that they decided to help their mission. Typically, all Get Up Give Back segments are filmed in person but all parties are practicing social distancing to flatten the curve of COVID-19. Reese Waters joined Kathleen Norris of Kindness Community on a video call to discuss their work and also a surprise gift.

Kindness Community Donation

On camera, the announced that the Kindness Community would be receiving a $1,000 donation on behalf of Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 Get Up DC. The money will help them continue their amazing work of feeding doctors and nurses around the district. Today, May 6th is #NationalNursesDay so please send them some love and remind them that they are appreciated and irreplaceable.

Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 are always here to help. If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that is worthy of being helped or recognized, please contact at @ReeseWaters on social media. #GetUpDC #GetUpGiveBack ?

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/MYwcWm6_M9Q

Link to original article ? https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/outreach/get-up-give-back/getupgivebackkindesscommunity/65-39aec7ac-2287-4bdd-85c1-65abda48efc8