JACKSON, Wyo. — Sometimes, social media is good.
Sometimes, social media brings people together, especially when they can’t physically be together, and fosters mass action in the face of crisis. Sometimes, social media is responsible for feeding entire shifts of healthcare workers and supporting struggling local businesses at the same time.
That’s just what social media started last Friday, and the human behind it is Meagan Murtagh — famously know as MeagTheEgg on Instagram. The idea posted to social media has already turned into a movement.
The chain of command is meant to touch as many people as possible who might be hurting right now. Murtagh collects monetary donations through her brand-new website, The Hole Quarantine. With that money, she will buy goods and gift cards from local businesses who may be struggling right now. She then donates those goods to local hospital staff.
“I’m really worried about small businesses and our local economy, and about our nurses and hospital staff,” Murtagh said.
Murtagh started on Friday by reaching out to her Instagram followers — all 21,000 of them — for donations. Give whatever you can,” she asked. Within two hours, she had raised $2,000. “Friday was also the last day Pearl Street Bagels was open, so Murtagh basically bought out the rest of PSB’s inventory — hundreds of bagels. Then she went to Cowboy Coffee for a couple hundred cups of coffee. By lunchtime, St. John’s Health staff were refueling on bagels, coffee, and cookies.
“I have an Instagram platform, and I wanted to use that for good,” Murtagh said.
Just four days later, Murtagh, with the help of friends like Lisa Roarke, has built her website and raised $7,000. She brought Persephone treats to the hospital this morning, and has 60 burritos on deck for tonight.
The site also includes the option to send a hand-written card of gratitude, written (with gloves on) on cards from local shops. ROAM spent the better part of a day writing 60 cards to hospital staff — all purchased with funds raised on The Hole Quarantine, which “covered two days of payroll, Roam owner Grace said. Jamie Farmer of Farmer Payne Architects stuffed those gift cards with 60 $50 gift certificates to Teton Tiger (businesses can sponsor a day of donations by emailing theholequarantine@gmail.com).
“I just want to let you know how incredibly heartwarming and meaningful this is,” St. John’s Health Foundation President John Goettler said on Murtagh’s Instagram story. “I hope we can continue to express extreme thanks and gratitude for your support.”
Murtagh isn’t the only community member stepping up for the community. Local artist Nicole Gaitan is auctioning an original 20×20 oil painting to purchase $100 gift cards from local businesses, which will then be distributed in a drawing to anyone who enters the auction. Café Genevieve is offering patrons the option to add $15 to their bill which will pay for a meal delivered to St. John’s Health employees.
As Fred Rogers used to say, “look for the helpers. There are always people helping.” Sure enough, helpers abound in Teton County.
“I freaking love this town,” Murtagh said.
