RICHMOND, Va. -- Kudos for Care is an online community and fund for nurses on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Debbie Johnston is the founder of Kudos for Care. She says their stories need to be shared.
"These nurses are heroes and I don't think the general population knows exactly what they're doing on the frontlines," said Johnston. "It came about for me, reading nurse stories night after night... and with COVID it was overwhelming... And I wanted everybody to hear these stories."
Johnston, a trained nurse herself, tells CBS 6 she knew something had to be done to help encourage those seeing and witnessing the unthinkable.
Kudos for Care has created a GoFundMe page. So far they have raised nearly $700 of the $5,000 goal.
"I had in mind is maybe trips because these people have given up their family life. If they need PPE, connect them with someone who does that, because that’s been a huge need," said Johnston. "We would never send a solider into a battle without a riffle and there are cases where we're sending nurses in and they're not protected."
So far, Kudos for Care has reached thousands of viewers on their website and a growing group of followers on their Facebook page.
Nurses in Central Virginia have already started receiving gifts and recognition for their dedication and hard work during the pandemic.
"We’ve delivered gift baskets to every nursing station in Chippenham Hospital," said Johnston.
Johnston say as long as the pandemic is going, Kudos for Care will still be there cheering on the nurses.
"We want America to hear their stories and so I want nurses to write in," she added.