When Virginia Hospital Center Foundation reached out to the community to help fight COVID-19 and support frontline healthcare workers, the response was overwhelming and heartwarming.

As restaurants closed, the Foundation partnered with the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO) to launch the “Buy a Nurse Lunch” program. From March-December 2020, CPRO donated 1,200 meals prepared by local restaurants. The group donated another 360 meals from January-March 2021.

In this way, the community has been helping not only essential healthcare workers at Virginia Hospital Center, but also Arlington’s local restaurants and their employees. “Each purchase from a restaurant is between $400 and $500…” CPRO Executive Director Kim Klingler explains “…and there have been a few times that a restaurant has told us that the income from ‘Buy a Nurse Lunch’ made the difference for them being able to make rent that month.”

In addition, the Foundation partnered with Sarah Goldman Photography to raise funds for the Hospital’s COVID-19 response. Sarah offered outside holiday portrait sessions through The Front Steps Project for all those who gave. This effort raised almost $7,000.

Every gift has made a difference during the pandemic. One young Arlington girl wanted to support the Hospital where she was born. So, she set up a socially distanced lemonade stand and raised $60.

These are just a few of hundreds of inspiring ways our community has come together to support the Hospital’s frontline health care workers in this challenging time.