Special to The Star-Herald
This project is dedicated to our frontline heroes, first responders, and all healthcare employees. That was the original concept for the mission statement. After further consideration, Brenda Harmon decided that no one is exempt from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Everyone at some point has been directly or indirectly affected by the COVID-19 virus. It is true that the frontline responders and all healthcare employees are directly involved, interacting, and caring for our loved ones when we can't even visit. We must consider the vast importance of essential employees such as maintenance, clergy, teachers, manufacturing employees, store employees, day cares, funeral directors, pharmacists, truckers, postal employees, etc.; we could go on and on. The idea is that everyone is involved with taking care of each other.
We must support, encourage, and motivate each other in these very, very, very stressful times just as everyone did in World War II. Everyone pulled up their sleeves and came together as a team. Even women went to work in factories. The point here is that we are caught up in a war against the pandemic and are literally playing catch up. The public did not know that the virus was here nor how it got here.
While watching the news one day, the reporter said it was "National Cookie Day," and it came to me that I should give back to the nurses and all the employees that provided such excellent care to my brother, Charles Harmon, and his companion. I called Sister Janice Coffee of Marble Rock Church and told her about the idea. Without hesitation, she took the time to pick up pre-packaged cookies and started delivering them to the clinic, ER, and the second floor at the hospital. I pitched the idea to Pastor Martha Jones of New Center Ridge and Heaven Is My Goal. She and her members generously started donating to Attala Nursing Home and Attala Baptist Hospital in December of 2020.
My sister, Janice Harmon-Howard, a nutrition specialist, saw a Facebook post belonging to Pastor Martha Jones and called me to ask about the Harmon's Heroes Project. Pastor Jones and her members and staff had taken food items and pre-packaged products to both the Attala Nursing Home and the Attala Baptist Hospital and posted pictures. I was truly surprised, flabbergasted, and honored that she and her members were so generously working behind the scenes and without hesitation.
My sister Janice would apprise me of other national days such as "National Popcorn Day," "National Cupcake Day," and so on. She gave me many other ideas on how to support our healthcare employees. On "Popcorn Day," we sent over pre-packaged popcorn to the hospitals, and it was delivered by Sister Janice Coffee of Marble Rock Church. For Valentine's Day, I contacted Pastor Michael Williams of New Banyon Baptist Church in Sallis and again, without hesitation, he and his members donated $100 to provide gifts for the E.R. nurses and the registration clerks.
Mr. Steve Deason from God's Corner Gardener gave an extremely generous discount on Valentine's mugs filled with candy and provided free crosses. He and his staff made all of the exquisite flower arrangements that were sent to the P.M.G. Clinic and the hospital. The ones that stood out to me were the arrangements that were delivered to the Brigadier General Martha Jo Leslie State Veterans Nursing Home because they were red, white, and blue. He does such awesome work!
Our beloved Mrs. Daisy Jackson's daughter, Debra, of D.J.'s Fish House in Sallis, has been giving free meals to any employee with a clinic or hospital I.D. badge. Any healthcare employee is welcome and the food is great! May Mrs. Daisy Jackson rest in peace .
The signs that you may have seen around the clinic and hospital were printed by Ms. Melonie and placed by volunteers, some who wish to remain anonymous. I especially like the signs at the Brigadier General Martha Jo Leslie State Veterans Nursing Home that read, "Heroes live here, and Heroes work here."
For the holidays, I've decided to have signs placed at churches , schools, the sheriff's office, the fire department, Autumn Ridge dental office, and anyone that will permit us to do so. This is the second phase of the project.
Everyone is working diligently to provide services while this virus is rampaging. I addressed the Board of Supervisors about this project in December of 2020 and again in January of 2021.
Several of the volunteers and donors wish to remain anonymous. Others have given their permission to be named. They are my committee which includes Sister Janice Coffee, Ms. Tashina Griffin, and Pastor Martha Jones. Thanks to Mrs. Charla Grace, Attala County librarian, and her entire staff, Ms. Lula Thompson of Traveler's Rest Baptist Church, Charles Harmon, Steven Coffee, Deacon Greg Williams of Louisiana, and Bruce Harmon.
If I've forgotten anyone, please give me a call at home, (662) 289-5289, or on my cell, (708) 305-0475.
If you would like to donate anything to the clinics or hospital, you may do so. We ask that only pre-packaged items be donated, please. You may do so or call committee member Sister Janice Coffee at (662) 582-7379. You may also deliver them yourself to the department of your choice.
- Donations may also be made to our firefighters, the police department, the ambulance company, or anyone that you feel the desire to show your support and appreciation for being involved in combating this COVID-19 virus.
If you received anything in our first wave of the project, then please pay it forward by donating to other departments at the Premier Medical Group Clinic or the hospital. For example, if you received a flower, pot a flower and then present it to another department such as medical records or maintenance. If you received candy, then donate to another department such as the lab and so on.
I donated my stimulus checks to the project. Although I needed the extra money, I felt compelled to start the project because our healthcare employees and first responders are extremely stressed and going above and beyond the call of duty to combat this virus and to take care of our friends' and neighbors' families. Encouragement and incentives go a long way. They need our support. We need to support, motivate, and encourage each other not only just during this pandemic, but also every day. Please call Mrs. Susan, the Administrator's Secretary, if you plan to donate pre-packaged items to the hospital at (662) 289-4311.
