By Heart of Illinois ABC
BLOOMINGTON – Mike Kraynak and Dean McCullough have been friends for about 15 years.
Both gentlemen wondered how the coronavirus pandemic would impact McLean County.
“We wanted to do so much, but we had to narrow it down and that’s when we wanted to focus on healthcare workers because they have a skill set that isn’t easy to bring back. If one of them is out for 14 days you can’t easily replace them,” said Kraynak.
Kraynak has a background in fundraising and McCullough has worked in healthcare.
They created a GoFundMe to help those on the front lines.
McCullough said, “For everyone that has donated or has worked with us it’s a way for them to feel like they’re in the action phase and they’re doing something about it. They don’t have to sit back and watch the bad news roll in, they can be part of the good news.”
They’ve worked with OSF Healthcare, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, and Chestnut Health Systems to make sure healthcare workers are able to keep working.
The GoFundMe has brought in over $2,200 with a goal of $10,000.
All of the money raised goes toward hotel vouchers.
“So with the hospitals the first time I did it I kind of got some blank stares like they didn’t know what was going on, but the second week word had gotten around and they knew what to do when I came in with vouchers,” said Kraynak.
McCullough added, “Whatever anyone can do to put the word out and the good part about this is it adds up quickly. $5 matters, $3 matters, 10 dollars.”
The men said the pandemic will determine how long they keep up this effort and if housing is no longer needed, their focus will shift to others in need.
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