June 03, 2020
Today, Denver Health joined a citywide effort organized by the Downtown Denver Partnership to clean up downtown Denver's streets after six nights of protests sparked by the tragic death of George Floyd. Hundreds of volunteers turned out in the early morning to help clean the streets of all litter around the 16th Street Mall and the Colorado State Capitol.
The effort included 75 Denver Health employees (and some of their family members) who came on their own time outside of working hours, to volunteer to pick up trash, hand out water to workers making repairs, hang up posters and wipe down graffiti. This morning's effort included staff from all areas of Denver Health, including environmental service workers, nurses, doctors and other medical staff, administrators and executives. Another 150 Denver Health employees have committed to volunteer for a similar effort this Friday morning, June 5.
Denver Health has been a part of the Denver community for 160 years and our mission has always been providing for our community. We joined this effort because many of our staff members told us they wanted to help however they can.
Our staff split up into teams and turned the morning into a friendly competition to see who could collect the most garbage, with the group led by urgent care nursing manager Nichole Morris, RN topping all others by filling up 26 trash bags.
"Nichole's team edged mine by just one bag, but it was the city of Denver that ultimately was the victor, as our streets are far cleaner because of everyone's efforts," said Denver Health Adult Urgent Care Center and Downtown Urgent Care Director Michael Breyer, MD, who thanked all of his staff for their efforts.
"I couldn't be prouder of our team and Denver Health today," Dr. Breyer added.
The Downtown Denver Partnership is inviting the entire community to join the next clean-up effort on Friday morning, June 5, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Meet at Skyline Park, on Arapahoe Street between 16th & 17th. Please be sure to wear your mask and practice social distancing if you plan to volunteer. If possible, please bring along gloves and/or trash bags. Volunteers can come and go whenever they need to.
