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NOTE: The following information was published May 9, 2020. For current COVID-19 information, visit LVHN.org/COVID-19
In these atypical times caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19), nurses and other health care team members at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Schuylkill celebrated National Nurses’ Day by giving rather than receiving. LVH–Schuylkill colleagues donated non-perishable food items, toiletries, socks, underwear and made a cash donation to Servants to All, a Pottsville-based organization dedicated to helping individuals who are homeless and finding solutions for those who need shelter.
Giving back and paying it forward
The idea to help Servants to All came from Lisa Brennan, RN, Behavioral Health Services with LVH–Schuylkill, who thought reaching out to our community would be a good way to give back and pay it forward.
Brennan shared the idea with her supervisor, Alex Kalinich, RN, Director of Behavioral Health Services, who helped convert Brennan’s good idea into reality. “With so many people from our community negatively affected by the COVID-19 crisis due to loss of income, interrupted employment and other situations, we learned that the requests to Servants to All have been steadily increasing,” Kalinich says.
Generous spirit makes a difference
“Through the generosity of our colleagues, we delivered many necessities, including food, diapers and baby care items, toiletries, as well as made a financial donation,” says Stacey Kelly, RN, Administrator, Patient Care Services, who helped in the collection. “Time and time again, people in our community have shown their support to our colleagues and we wanted to give back because we know there are others in our community who are in need.”
Susan Curry, MSN, Vice President, Patient Care Services at LVH–Schuylkill, recognized and thanked the hospital team for their efforts, “This is truly amazing,” Curry says. “It’s so nice to see this spirit of giving back. Everyone who participated should feel really good about assisting our community partners during this time of great need.” As additional items come in, they will be shared with the shelter.
Thankful for our heroes
Servants to All expressed their appreciation on their Facebook page: “You are amazing. In the midst of everything going on today, you have been so generous to collect donations for the homeless and Servants to All. You are true heroes! God bless you all.”
For more encouraging stories, health tips an coronavirus (COVID-19) updates, please visit LVHN.org/COVIDStrong.