LARNED — Health-care workers in Larned have been recognized for their efforts during the pandemic through an initiative called Cards 4 COVID Heroes, which was started by teenage siblings in California.

Prabhleen and Mantej Lamba were so moved by the efforts of doctors and nurses around the country that they wanted to show their appreciation, said Lori Milch, Culture Committee member at The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus.

The hospital received handmade greetings and gift cards through this project.

“We were fortunate enough to be included and everyone at Pawnee Valley Campus truly appreciates this recognition,” Milch said. “We celebrated throughout the entire month of February.”

The celebration included: displaying the handmade cards in a hospital-window mural, as well as throughout the facility; promoting the project in area media and on Facebook; and posting on Facebook employees’ stories that explain how COVID-19 has affected their jobs and personal lives with the help of Megan Mawhirter, director of Health Information Management.

The gift cards were delivered to department directors “who were pleasantly surprised,” Milch said. “The departments will decide how the cards will be used.”

Julie Bugner-Smith, Spread the Joy Campaign organizer, recently sent an email to the siblings in the San Francisco Bay Area, thanking them for the “awesome surprise” and sharing the appreciation of the staff.

Bugner-Smith also asked why Pawnee Valley Campus was chosen for this honor.

“The teenagers called here to seek information about us and then sent their cards of appreciation,” said Bugner-Smith. “They were sending cards to facilities across the country and didn’t want to overlook community hospitals such as ours. We can’t thank them enough for reaching out to us. Everyone here truly appreciates the effort.”