BELFAST — City of Belfast Mayor Eric Sanders delivered over $3,500 in provisions and monetary donations Friday, April 24 to Tall Pines and Harbor Hill to support their workforce during the continuing health crisis.

“We had a chance to speak with staff at Tall Pines and Harbor Hill regarding the delivery of the donations,” Sanders said. “We were each able to articulate how much we appreciated each other. We lifted their spirits, and they lifted our spirits more.”

At an April 14 meeting, the Belfast Mayor and City Council discussed the strain on staff, patients and the community at large following the outbreak at the Tall Pines facility and their desire to provide support to staff at both long-term care facilities, according to a news release.

At an April 21 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a plan to donate $3,500 to the two facilities.

Tall Pines received a donation of $1,000 to their kitchen to provide meals to their staff, a practice that was adopted in response to the virus outbreak, in addition to a donation of $1,000 to the Employee Sunshine Fund to be used for staff appreciation however deemed best by employees, the release noted.

Harbor Hill received a donation for $1,000 to the Employee Excellence Committee for staff provisions of their choice.

Both facilities received care packages containing more than $250 in cases of bottled water, juice and individually packaged snack food. The Belfast Hannaford donated fruit to the care packages.

Letters of appreciation from the Mayor and all employees were included in both care packages.

“The City of Belfast is grateful for all of the time, energy and expertise you and your staff have given to all of your patients for decades,” the letter read. “Long term care is some of the most important work in our society, that is too often overlooked. In most recent weeks, with the spread of COVID-19 into your facility, the importance of your work has been most clearly demonstrated. Thank you for your exceptional work and service to our community. We are so incredibly thankful.”