On Friday morning, the Town of Montgomery’s first responders paid their respects to healthcare workers from Montgomery Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (MNRC) with a drive by followed by a salute.

MNRC’s workers have felt the harsh effects of COVID-19 lately. As of Friday, the center has reported 27 positive COVID-19 cases in house. The facility has suffered 23 deaths, with 16 occurring on site and seven taking place at the hospital. Twenty of the center’s employees are out of work due to testing positive for COVID-19 or being symptomatic. Six have returned to work since testing positive. Four residents have recovered in house and are now asymptomatic after testing positive.

“As a community we wanted to thank them for being on the front lines and to show them that we are behind them,” Montgomery Town Supervisor Brian Maher said.

The Town of Montgomery Police Benevolent Association as well as all of the Town’s first responder departments provided food from Frankie T’s Kitchen and Catering to all 88 of MNRC’s employees. The Fox Hill Community also contributed their homemade muffins. Residents of the Town of Montgomery acknowledged the center’s workers by writing cards.

“Thank you for the work you are doing during this pandemic,” one of the cards said. “The Montgomery community appreciates you.”

To further aid MNRC’s employees, volunteers from the Town of Montgomery Community Response Team continue to provide them with groceries and essentials. The Response Team has worked with Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Montgomery to shelter MNRC employees and community members who wish to self-quarantine for fear of having COVID-19.

“They’ve been through a lot,” Maher said regarding MNRC’s employees on Friday. “We’re here to honor them today and their service. And for all those essential healthcare workers that are on the frontlines throughout Orange County, the Hudson Valley, the state and all across the country, we really appreciate what you’re doing and today we show a small token of our appreciation to our Montgomery Nursing Home right here in our community.”