State Senator James Skoufis delivered hundreds of care packages to health care workers on Tuesday.

A few months ago, Skoufis started his "Project Gratitude" initiative, asking kids to send him handmade letters with words or drawings of encouragement for health care workers who might be isolating from their own children during the pandemic, or just to make them smile, knowing people of all ages appreciate what they are doing.

Skoufis delivered the letters in what he calls "recovery kits" on Tuesday, including snacks and other much needed items, to the staff at Montefiore Saint Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh.

The senator says this gesture is one way to give front line works more than just a verbal “thank you,” which he says he will continue to fight for as politicians return to Albany.

"This is just our, for the time being, gesture, small way of thanking them from my office, from the students we worked with. Certainly we need to do a lot more, we’re getting back to Albany this week, and one of my missions is to make sure that beyond just words, we properly thank the people who have been taking care of us this entire time," Skoufis said.

He says he plans to fight for proper benefits packages for essential workers, like death benefits to make sure families are taken care of, and also possible workers compensation payments.