CORNELIUS, N.C. — Sixteen-year-old Courtney Guice, of Cornelius, may be young, but she’s wise beyond her years.
“I just wanted to give back to the nurses and the doctors because they are putting themselves on the front line,” she said.
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When the teenager saw the news reports of countless nurses and doctors treating COVID-19 patients, she wanted to help.
“I just started typing ideas I had. I called Novant and Atrium and I said, ‘How many doctors and nurses do you have?’” she told Channel 9.
Within a day, Guice compiled her plan. Within hours, she raised hundreds of dollars on a GoFundMe page and recruited a handful of local restaurants to help.
“I was completely surprised, the support I have received is incredible,” Guice said.
Working toward a $2,500 goal on GoFundMe, she uses the money to purchase restaurant gift cards to place inside water bottles to be handed out to health care workers.
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, Red Rocks Café, Roots, O-Ku and Macs Speed Shop have all either donated or matched her contribution to help even more people on the front lines.
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Guice has already distributed 35 kits so far. Another 200 are ready for workers as early as next week. But it’s not just a pretty water bottle and a free meal. Inside is a note of appreciation to the health care workers.
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“We would like to thank you for all the sacrifices you have made. You are a true inspiration for all Americans,” Guice said, reading one of the letters.
It’s a gesture that’s moved her community, and her parents.
“It’s amazing to see what kind of community support we’ve had. Everybody has really pulled together,” said her father, Scott Guice.
Courtney has already raised more than $1,000 on the fundraising page. She is hoping to collect handwritten letters to place inside the water bottles and would also like to expand her program to other health care workers.
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