Care For Caregivers: Forbidden Fruit Event Gives Back to Healthcare Workers

It’s easy to take the care we have at our disposal for granted. At any given moment, the average person has the assurance that there are hardworking nurses, doctors, therapists, and countless other professionals in their area, ready to provide the best possible assistance. But in fields as taxing as these, who is looking out for them? At our most recent event, Care for Caregivers, Forbidden Fruit set out to be a resource, and care for those who care so much for us. 

Healthcare workers sit back and relax, or socialize with others during the Care for Caregivers event.

On Thursday, May 14th, at Garden Court Towers in West Philadelphia, we hosted Care for Caregivers, a free, 3-hour wellness event for healthcare professionals during National Hospital Week. Within a lively event space, healthcare workers were able to relax, take a breath, and receive the attentiveness they always bring to others. The event featured a collection of resources: food, massages, music, activities, and opportunities to network or simply connect with others from the healthcare community. 

Making a night like this possible was an amalgamation of work from various local companies. Guests enjoyed massages from Total Performance Bodywork, assisted stretching from StretchLab, gentle yoga sessions led by Hot Yoga Sutra, and sound healing led by both Hot Yoga Sutra and Carley Simone. Attendees also found themselves busy at the badge crafting station, courtesy of let me know club. Delicious food was provided by a handful of incredible Philly businesses, including Sava’s, Good Hatch Eatery, and Johnny Paisano’s. The crowd stayed hydrated thanks to SaltRim, a mobile bar, and unique beverages like Yerba Madre and Sagro Farms coffee.

Care for Caregivers attendees get a taste of some great local food. Captured by 215phlix.

Attendees we spoke to were all vocal about the sense of camaraderie they felt, the kind that can only come from being in a space with people who relate to your own everyday life. “It boosts morale,” said Tracy Jones, a nurse who specializes in working with children with autism.

“It’s nice to have someone pour into us when we are always pouring into others.”

Jones described the solidarity she feels within her healthcare community. “It makes you appreciate it. A lot of times, when you're working 12-hour days, you don’t appreciate it. But there’s a sisterhood… having someone who can understand, sharing your stories. Other people don’t get it.”  

Other nurses emphasized a similar feeling of unity among their peers. As we wandered around, people were in circles scattered throughout the venue, talking to strangers, and even dancing to the sounds provided by DJ Reezey. Neja Anthony, a bedside nurse from the area, described the real impression that events like these leave on workers. “I love it. I wish they would have more of this stuff around here.” Anthony found herself surprised at how many friends she made as the evening progressed. “Just to be here for people and mingle with them is amazing. Great, genuine energy.” 

Healthcare workers from all over the city share meals and friendly conversation during Care for Caregivers.

One of these friends she met was Alex Barry, a tenant of the apartment complex who went to check out the event. Though he himself doesn’t work in healthcare, that didn’t stop him from engaging with the community and learning more from those who do. “It's one of my favorite things about this building, that we get these events, and that I can come down and get to meet people who live in my building, or the community.” He remarked. Barry and Neja bonded over their studies, as they both are in the midst of medical and law school respectively, a testament to not only the vibrant professional and educational community in this area of Philadelphia, but of the friendships that form from real, local collective engagement. 

Attendees create badges and new friendships at let me know club's art station.

Care for Caregivers’ started as a vision and became a huge success. Jared Engel, part of the property management team of Garden Court Towers, felt inspired to celebrate our local healthcare workers, and generously opened their doors to make it possible. During the event, Engel described his happiness seeing the space being used for such locally relevant purposes. “[The space] is everything that we hoped it would be. We built a building that we're very proud of, that lived up to our hopes and expectations… Now we're just excited to share with the community, letting people see it and experience it.”

With a thriving community and vibrant spaces like Garden Court, West Philadelphia will continue to grow as a prime hub for students and young professionals. We look forward to celebrating our healthcare workers for years to come. Don’t miss the next one! Stay connected with Forbidden Fruit and Garden Court Towers for local community experiences.