Proviso Mental Health Commission provides 460 meals at Loyola and Gottlieb Hospital

MAYWOOD, IL—More than 460 front line healthcare workers at Loyola University and Gottlieb Memorial Hospital were treated to lunch courtesy of the Proviso Township Mental Health Commission (PTMHC). Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, PTMHC has provided more than 1500 meals to hospitals and other healthcare workers through a series of fundraisers and partnerships with area restaurants.
“Sound mental health is not only important to a person’s individual health, but in the case of overworked and highly stressed medical staff working during COVID, it can help them do their jobs better,” said Melrose Park Trustee Arturo Mota.
Mota was instrumental in kickstarting the campaign to feed medical workers in Proviso Township. He approached the PTMHC in March about raising funds to provide meals for healthcare workers but also as a way to support some local restaurants during a time when they were closed to sit-down traffic.
“Not only do health care workers get a mental health break, but workers at these restaurants were kept employed during a time of job uncertainty.”
As more is learned about the COVID-19 virus, more is also being gleaned from studies involving healthcare workers who treat patients, often in high-stress environments. Numerous mental health care experts have said that even providing a simple meal to hard-working and often exhausted medical staff, nurses, doctors, and technicians can help reduce stress, improve mental health and better prepare them for their jobs.
“The truth is, we cannot do enough to thank these courageous and skilled medical workers who are tireless who put their lives on the line to help all of us,” said Proviso Township Mental Health Commission President Mike Corrigan. “From the bottom of our hearts we say thank you!”
Since April, PTMHC has been providing hundreds of meals to workers at Gottlieb, Advocate Christ, MacNeal, Lurie’s Children’s, UIC, and Loyola hospitals. The Commission has teamed up with area restaurants to provide the free meals.