MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital recently hosted an employee appreciation day.

The MMH Foundation planned the appreciation day and received several donations from sponsors to make it a great success.

Artwork was created by students at St. Lawrence Central School and hung all throughout the hospital for employees to see and be reminded of all the hard work they do. MMH also offered treats and discounts to their employees, as well as brought in a local fitness center, Heart to Heart, to provide staff members with a fun break during their shifts.

“The Foundation knows Massena Memorial Hospital provides outstanding, vital healthcare for our community as a full-service hospital. Our mission for 33 years has been to support the same. Our hospital employees’ focus has been steadfast providing excellent care for those seeking in-patient and outpatient healthcare services at MMH. The Foundation shares that focus and recognizes the professionalism in which every team member delivers daily for our community and felt they should know that in a very public way,” MMH Foundation director Julia Rose said.

To kick off the day, MMH had donuts and coffee available to employees in the cafeteria. Tim Horton’s in Massena and Heart to Heart Fitness in Hogansburg gave the hospital over 30 dozens of donuts. Sue Bellor provided the coffee.

T-shirts were awarded to employees at the hospital as well. Random prize drawings were also held throughout the day. The hospital gave away flowers, maple syrup, lawn chairs, lunch totes, an oil change gift certificate from Frenchie’s Chevrolet, a gift card to An Italian Affair and a Visa Gift Card. The MMH Foundation, Uniform Professionals, Bob and Cindy Elsner, Real “Frenchie” Coupal, and an anonymous donor all made the employee prize drawings possible. Heart to Heart fitness also handed out free week membership coupons and led stretching exercises during the day as a fun activity for employees.

Other treats were available to MMH employees and patients on Appreciation Day, including popcorn cups and cotton candy. The MMH Auxiliary, MMH Foundation and Bob and Cindy Elsner provided the popcorn cups and cotton candy. Several members from the community volunteered to man the popcorn and cotton candy stations throughout the day, including Massena Mayor Tim Currier, Real Coupal, Sheri Norman, Mike McCabe, Mark Bogdan, Judy Van Kennan, Gail Schneider, Tom Miller, Sue Bellor, Wendy Chambers, Holly Derouchie, Miriam Catapano, Elizabeth Dow, Lenore Levine, Krista Colarusso-Martin, and Colleen Besaw. The Auxiliary also contributed to MMH Appreciation Day by offering a 20 percent discount at the Gift Shop to all employees and through their “Baked with Love” station set up outside the cafeteria.

Since the night shift staff members were unable to have donuts and coffee in the morning, the foundation arranged for pizzas and salad to be delivered to the hospital in the evening. Popcorn cups and cotton candy were also left for the night shift in the employee lounges. To wrap up the Employee Appreciation Celebration, MMH offered Family Skate to employees and their families on March 10 at the Massena Arena courtesy of A. Capionne, Inc. and Dale Kramer.