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Vidant Beaufort hospital workers enjoyed a special lunch Friday, compliments of the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce.

Doctors, nurses and staff dined on chicken or ham sandwiches with macaroni or potato salad, grapes, pineapples and other assorted fruit along with a chocolate chip cookie for dessert, individually boxed from Carryout by Chrislyn.

“Our staff started this project a week ago and we had 33 businesses step up to help within two days,” said WBCCC President Catherine Glover. “We did it back in April when the pandemic began, and we didn’t want these folks to feel like we’ve forgotten about them. We know they have worked hard under difficult circumstances for a long time now and we wanted them to know that the community appreciates them and what they do.”

In addition to the 300 meals passed out during lunch, 100 more went to night shift workers and 71 went to the Belhaven Clinic.

The Chamber set up a tent in the hospital’s west parking lot and managers came down to collect the meals, then delivered them to the workers inside, so patient care went uninterrupted.

“This is well-timed and very much appreciated,” Vidant Marketing Director Pam Shadle said. “Our folks are amazing, and they do tough work.”

The Chamber staff also stocked baskets with cookies, chocolate, gummy bears, Chex-Mix, Cheez-its and Skinny Pop for each hospital floor’s breakroom.

“I’m almost speechless,” Raspatory Therapist Leslie Alston said. “It’s very kind and generous and we really appreciate it. We love what we do and goes a long way to know that people care.”