Each year, Sheridan Memorial Hospital (SMH) employees find ways to give back to the community; 2020 was no different… um, wait, yes it was.
“The generosity and support we received from the community this past year were like nothing we have ever witnessed,” said Cody Sinclair, SMH Chief Development Officer. “It was a great feeling to be able to continue with the traditional fundraisers and food drives we normally have throughout the year. It paled in comparison to the community support we received, for sure. But our employees still stepped up.”
During a year filled with uncertainty, long hours, double shifts, 24-7 masks, head to toe PPE, and lack of social connection due to COVID-19, SMH employees still found a way to contribute.
“We’re proud of the way our employees have responded to all the challenges of COVID-19, and these efforts show how much they really care for this community,” Sinclair added.
Here are some of the various efforts that hospital staff and departments participated in or initiated this past year.
SMH Foundation Employee Partner Program – over 514 employee partners raised over $47,700 in 2020 to provide additional funding for the hospital’s Transitional Care Unit expansion which is currently underway. Over the past 17 years, SMH employee partners have contributed over $500,000 to projects at our community hospital.
Patient Access and Admissions Department – collected food for the People Assistance Food Bank and cash for the Salvation Army over the holidays.
Women’s Health Department – collected toys for Toys for Tots during their annual Christmas toy drive.
Marketing Department – Volunteered to help organize and re-stock food supplies at The Food Group.
Patient Accounts Department – conducted a food and toy drive for Christmas. Food was donated to the People Assistance Food Bank and toys were donated to Toys for Tots.
Internal Medicine Practice – Employees provided gifts for 45 children of patients in the Addiction Medicine Clinic for Christmas.
All SMH Employees – Specific Fridays throughout the year are designated as “Jeans Friday” at SMH. Employees are encouraged to donate $5 for the privilege of wearing jeans on that day and $1,840 was raised from this effort. The funds were distributed among the following causes:
- The Link Partners in Pink
- Kozy Korner Gift program that purchases gifts for those in the hospital on Christmas
- Sheridan Media Christmas Wish Campaign
- Salvation Army
All SMH Employees – 2020 COVID-19 Employees Give Back – Food drive to collect non-perishable items for the People Assistance Food Bank, the Food Group and the Salvation Army.