April 17, 2020
Medical workers at Carney Hospital gathered to watch a parade of vehicles that drove by the hospital to salute them on Thursday. Katie Trojano photo
A long line of vehicles decorated with flags, balloons, and handmade signs streamed slowly past the Carney Hospital on Thursday, drivers sounding their horns to salute doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff who have been treating COVID-19 patients.
The drive-by ‘Dorchester Salutes the Carney’ display, organized by District 3 City Councillor Frank Baker and his office, was a strong showing of community support for frontline workers at the Carney.
“I’m feeling really good about it, it was something positive that we were able to do as a community," said Baker. "I’d say we had about 70 to 75 cars in that line. We were hoping for about 25 so we certainly got to that goal."
“We also raised some money to be able to buy dinners and lunches for the staff a couple of times, so that’s nice.”
Carney has transitioned into a "Dedicated Care Center” for COVID-19 patients over the last month. A group of nurses who gathered along the hospital's Dorchester Avenue entrance to watch the parade said they were thankful for all of the community support they’ve continually received-- whether in the form of PPE donations, donated lunches, or the drive-by salute.
Carney Nurses Victoria Jeanetti and Taylor O’Leary, and Padma Singh, a medical technician, held a handmade sign that read “The Carney staff thank you for all of your generous support!”
“We’re really thankful for all the support this community has shown us. Dealing with COVID-19 everyday can be difficult, but we’re getting through it and we’ve just seen tremendous support,” said O’Leary.
“This drive-by parade was an amazing boost today. The community really has been great and supportive to all of us,” added Jeanetti.
Margaret McPhail and her daughter Kristin Harding, both of Dorchester, stood across the street from the Carney with a handmade sign to show their support. Katie Trojano photo
Several residents clustered across the street from the Carney, clapping and hollering as the parade rolled by, and waving signs of their own.
As the last of the cars in the drive-by parade circled around the Carney entrance and headed north on Dorchester Ave., the crowd of healthcare workers re-entered the hospital and got back to work.
