On Friday, Governor Larry Hogan issued an official proclamation designating the week of February 7^th Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Week in Maryland.  Locally, the Allegany County Health Department is taking the opportunity to publicly thank and recognize the individuals, businesses, and organizations who have played key roles in the county’s ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response.  This not only includes the county’s emergency services, pharmacies, medical providers, nursing home staff, and public health workers, but also some, perhaps, less obvious partners.

“Some of the unsung heroes of our local COVID-19 response efforts have been partners such as the Allegany County Fairgrounds, Allegany County Library System, and a long list of community volunteers and local businesses who have provided both physical and logistical support to public health efforts during the pandemic,” stated Brenda Caldwell, ACHD Public Information Coordinator.

Early in the county’s COVID-19 response efforts, more than 40 community volunteers were involved in efforts to sew nearly 1,000 isolation gowns which were distributed to local long-term care and nursing facilities, and volunteers also assisted at the health department’s COVID-19 testing site at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.  Fairgrounds manager Kevin Kamauf and the Allegany County government have provided physical space and logistical support for COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics since July 2020 and continue to be strong and valued partners with the health department. 

More recently, when at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits became available for county residents, the Allegany County Library System agreed to provide the kits at their five library branches around the county, to make them more easily accessible to county residents.  When it was announced that free KN95 masks would be distributed in Allegany County, the library system once again stepped up to the plate and now provides both masks and test kits to the community.

Throughout the pandemic, numerous individuals, businesses, and organizations have supported the ACHD COVID-19 response effort with staffing support, donations of clinic space, logistics support, and services. From ACM nursing students assisting with vaccination clinics to area businesses donating hot beverages and outdoor heating equipment for those cold winter clinic days, there are many, many community “Healthcare Heroes” whose contributions have quietly bolstered the war on COVID-19. 

·         Advanced Mobility

·         Allegany College of Maryland

·         Allegany County Commissioners

·         Allegany County Detention Center

·         Allegany County Emergency Services

·         Allegany County Fairgrounds

·         Allegany County Fire Police

·         Allegany County Government

·         Allegany County Law Enforcement

·         Allegany County Library System

·         Allegany County Public Schools

·         Bedford Valley Petroleum

·         Charis Realty

·         County Medical

·         Cumberland Fire Department

·         Fairfield Inn & Suites

·         Frostburg State University

·         Heating unit donors

·         Local media outlets

·         Maryland Responds volunteers

·         Sewing volunteers

·         Sheetz of Cresaptown

·         Southern States

·         State Highway Administration

·         Tractor Supply

·         UPMC Western Maryland