By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – To mark a year since the COVID-19 pandemic began, OSF Healthcare is lighting its buildings in pink lights to signify thanks, appreciation, and gratitude to healthcare workers on the frontlines.

Pamela Meiner, Community Relations Coordinator for OSF HealthCare, said the lights are just a small token of appreciation during these difficult times.

“With the first anniversary of the official declaration of the pandemic, we were reflecting and wanted to do something to symbolize first of all the gratitude we have for all of our mission partners, our employees on the front lines who have worked so hard (and) sacrificed to serve people, with care and love. Not knowing what the next day was going to bring, quite often throughout the year and yet always showing up and bringing their best.

“Thank you to OSF Mission Partners everywhere for all they’ve done to care for their community and care for their own families at the same time… Of course, we have a way to go yet. We feel our communities are strong and full of hope: hopeful for each day moving forward that more people are vaccinated, and we can return to normal healthy communities one day soon.”

OSF HealthCare Saint James and OSF HealthCare St. Joseph will be two of many OSF Healthcare hospitals around the state to take part in lighting up the night.

“I hope (people) will drive by the OSF hospitals in their community and look at the pink lights and reflect on how far we’ve come in the past year and remember that good days are yet to come. And that we very much appreciate their support this past year.”

Since the start of the pandemic, 20,863 Illinoisans have died due to COVID-19 complications.

The lights will remain up for a week.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].