When the Madison Chamber of Commerce’s new Executive Director Michelle Epling and her family came down with Covid two weeks ago, she fully realized how thankful she was for the hardworking medical professionals who have given their all for the health and safety of the community.

“We’re so thankful for what they’re doing,” Epling said, “but how do you thank an entire city of workers?”

Epling stated that everyone wants to help, but nobody knows what to do. Lying in bed, she recalled her earlier volunteer activities and began to hatch a plan that would enable the Madison Chamber of Commerce to show their appreciation and bring smiles to the faces of the hardworking doctors, nurses, and other medical workers of Madison.

City of Madison Mayor Finley helping with the preparation for the Chamber’s donut drive

“The Madison Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to help create connections to change our community,” Epling said in a statement. “A large portion of our Madison workforce has been through immense stress and pressure during this latest Covid-19 surge, especially within our medical community. We wanted in a small way to show the urgent care facilities, pediatrician offices, and Madison ER department that we really do appreciate all the extra hours and time they have spent in the last few weeks helping all of our families and friends stay healthy.”

Once back on her feet, Epling organized a Chamber donut drive. Every board member of the Madison Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Paul Finley, and Madison’s city officials came together to sponsor over $500 in boxes of donuts for every urgent care, pediatrician’s office, and the Madison Hospital ER through the newly-created Madison Chamber Cares initiative.

“The focus of the Madison Chamber of Commerce in 2022 is to ‘Create Conversations and Connections that Change our Community’ for the better,” Epling said in a statement on Monday. “I know we can’t fix the long wait times in the ER, urgent care facilities, and pediatrician offices, but I do feel we can do something to show we care, and with that I want to announce the Madison Chamber of Commerce is launching our first “Madison Chamber Cares” day for our urgent care facilities, ER department, and pediatrician offices in our Madison City area tomorrow.”

On Tuesday morning, Mayor Finley came out to show his support for the initiative, helping the Madison Chamber Cares crew decorate the boxes and bags of donuts with stickers reading “Thank You Healthcare Heroes.”

“I love that our Madison Chamber and their ambassadors took the time to focus on our Health Care community with a huge ‘donut’ thank you,” Mayor Finley stated. “These professionals have been on the Covid front lines for close to two years now, supporting our community with dignity and compassion. We at City Hall echo their thanks and appreciate the continued efforts these professionals have given in improving Quality of Life in the City of Madison.”

The Madison Chamber board of directors hand delivered the care packages, with 16 different locations enjoying goodie bags filled with bottled water and candy as well as boxes of fresh custom donuts from WOW Donuts, located at 11156 County Line Rd., Suite H in Madison. Mayor Finley delivered one of those boxes to the Huntsville Hospital Urgent Care Center.

“The Madison Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to help create connections to change our community,” Epling said. “A large portion of our Madison workforce has been through immense stress and pressure during this latest Covid-19 surge, especially within our medical community. We wanted in a small way to show the urgent care facilities, pediatrician offices, and Madison ER department that we really do appreciate all the extra hours and time they have spent in the last few weeks helping all of our families and friends stay healthy.”

Madison City District 2 council member Connie Spears, one of the participants in this initiative, said “I was so excited to be able to be part of the Chamber Cares adventure this morning. It was a great way to show our health care workers that we do appreciate them, and to remind them that we do see them and they are doing a great job. It was just so much fun to be able to be a part of that and the surprise on their faces and how much they appreciated it just made my morning.”

Spears also expressed her gratitude for what Epling has brought to the Chamber, saying “Michelle has brought a renewed energy to the Chamber and it’s so awesome, the things she’s coming up with to just get everybody excited about Madison. It’s been such a refreshing point of view for our Chamber.”

Thanks to the success of this initiative, Epling has stated that she is interested in starting a fund for future acts of kindness for the community, noting that she strives to focus on the values of the City of Madison and that the City’s businesses are a valuable part of the Madison family.