Employees at the Costco wholesale club where Jeff Bauman works are rallying around the Boston Marathon bombing victim who lost both legs and is recovering at Boston Medical Center.
Bauman, 27, has health insurance to help cover what will be enormous medical bills, but his employer, Costco Wholesale Corp., is also matching donations made by colleagues at the chain’s Nashua location.
“What is important is that he is covered and will be taken care of,” said Bob Nelson, a Costco executive.
Bauman has worked for about 3½ years at the Nashua Costco and most recently served as a part-time employee in the deli area. Co-workers have been raising money for him since photos of his horrific injuries spread online, and they are trying to find ways to lift his spirits, including by spelling out his first name with their bodies in the store parking lot. They hope to present him with a photo of that scene Friday.
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Costco has also permitted the store’s general manager, Kevin Horst, to spend the week helping Bauman’s family. Horst, who lives next to Boston Medical Center, secured three parking spots for Bauman’s relatives. He also collected gift certificate donations from various merchants in the South End, including Flour and Blunch.
“The company has been very generous in allowing me the time to be here for the family,” said Horst, who visited Bauman for the first time Thursday. “I was very happy to see him and express all of the well wishes that are coming from his family at Costco. We pray for a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back.”
Jenn Abelson can be reached at abelson@globe.com.