Downey healthcare workers thanked with car parade
Caridad Monroy, right, from Downey Memorial Christian Church, hands off a basket of goodies to LVN Eda Olivares in front of the Emergency Department at PIH Health Downey Hospital on Saturday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
DOWNEY — Members of the Downey Memorial Christian Church thought saying “Thank You” to medical essential workers wasn’t enough.
So they staged a car parade to PIH Health Downey Hospital and Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center last Saturday led by Downey Police motorcycle and patrol officers with lights flashing and 10 cars decorated and honking horns.
Caridad Monroy, a church member and organizer of the event, started making phone calls “and it all fell into place overnight,” she said.
The church members met at the church where they finished the decorating of their cars and lined up for the parade and were led down Brookshire avenue by Downey police officers. as they drove by the Emergency departments, Monroy got out of her vehicle to deliver a basket of cookies, crackers, chocolates, sodas and other snacks at each of the hospitals while playing the song “Rise Up” on her phone.
“I wanted them to take a moment and give them a little comfort,” she said.
As the car parade drove though the hospital lots they drew attention from those around as some even clapped and smiled.
Monroy said that those that work in hospitals have situations that they go through every day and “we just need to be kind to each other. That’s what Jesus wants us to do.”
Downey police officers lead members from Downey Memorial Christian Church as they honor the medical staff at PIH Health Downey Hospital on Saturday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Members from Downey Memorial Christian Church honors medical staffs at PIH Health Downey Hospital on Saturday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Members from Downey Memorial Christian Church honors medical staff at Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center on Saturday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Members from Downey Memorial Christian Church honors medical staffs at PIH Health Downey Hospital and Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center on Saturday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Members from Downey Memorial Christian Church honors medical staffs at PIH Health Downey Hospital and Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center on Saturday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Members from Downey Memorial Christian Church honors medical staffs at PIH Health Downey Hospital and Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center on Saturday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)