St. Vincent’s Chilton showed its appreciation for the hard work that its associates have put forth since the hospital opened its doors by providing them with lunch on Monday.

The luncheon served as the kickoff of National Hospital Week, which is an initiative of the American Hospital Association.

It is the first time since St. Vincent’s Chilton open that it has been able to take part in the national celebration and they wanted to do it in a big way.

“I can remember back before we even opened, when the staff wasn’t just worried about patient care, but they were putting together linen carts and hanging clocks on the walls,” hospital administrator Suzannah Campbell said. “They really feel an ownership here.”

Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q provided the food, which associates enjoyed under a tent outside while basking in the beautiful spring weather.

Activities such as corn hole and an inflatable miniature golf hole were also on hand to provide a fun relief during their lunch break.

“It means a lot to get recognized for the work that we do,” CT technologist Morgan Little said. “We’ve all worked together as a facility and it has all come along really well.”

Food was available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., so that everybody could be included no matter what time a shift took place.

According to Campbell, plates of food would be made and taken to those working the night shift, so that no one was left out.

Other activities planned throughout the week include an opportunity for several nursing scholarships that will be given out at the Birmingham campus, but is open to all St. Vincent’s locations throughout the state.

Florence Nightingale’s birthday is also celebrated this week. She is recognized as the founder of modern nursing.

The community’s support and willingness to get involved in the week’s festivities, has been overwhelming, according to Towana Pardue, director of nursing at St. Vincent’s Chilton.

Melissa Edwards is a registered nurse in the surgery department and understands the impact that St. Vincent’s Chilton continues to make. She is a Clanton native and also worked in the past at the county’s previous hospital.

“We’re honored to be working at home,” Edwards said.