CLEARFIELD – The community is pulling together to support a local medical professional stricken with COVID-19 and is asking you to join them.
In October, Julie Hillyer Wisniewski, a nurse practitioner was exposed to the virus by a patient, according to a previous article.
She spent three weeks on a ventilator in a hospital in Altoona, but is now doing well, said Monica Smith, one of the organizers of a benefit dinner for Julie.
Julie is finally out of intensive care and beginning to recover with speech, occupational and physical therapy, according to a post on her Facebook page.
The idea to do a benefit dinner for Julie, whose husband is not working and who has two children, was an obvious one, Monica explained because Julie often arranged fundraisers for her patients.
“It is time for us to help her,” Monica said.
The benefit will be a take-out spaghetti dinner on Sunday, Dec. 6 at the West Side Station (the former Third Ward Fire Hall) at 508 Martin St., from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The dinners include spaghetti, meatballs, salad, dinner roll and a dessert.
Please note that there will be a limited number of people allowed in the building at a time due to COVID-19 restrictions, and masks are required.
Tickets, which are $10, are available at Clearfield Pharmacy & Gift Shoppe and Champion’s Choice in Curwensville. You can also call/text Monica at 814-762-2392 or you can purchase them at the door.
Limited delivery will be available to people in the Clearfield area.
The goal is to sell 750 dinners, she said.
On Sunday, there will also be a basket raffle from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Anyone wanting to donate items can contact Monica.
They will be selling “Prayers for Julie” T-shirts for $20, which feature a drawing by Julie’s son and the words “I love you Mom”.
If you want a T-shirt but can’t make it on Sunday, you can send a Facebook message to #Prayers For Julie# or Patti Ryan Greene to get one.
Masks with “Wearin’ it for Julie!” are another way to help. They are $10 each and can be purchased at the dinner or by sending a Facebook message to Sara Gill Guy.
Support for Julie has been strong with many in the area praying for her recovery.
“A lot of people love her,” Monica stated.
The medical costs for Julie’s hospitalization are expected to substantial and if another benefit is needed for her family, the group will arrange it.
“We’re here for her,” Monica said.
