Serving Our Communities
Hospital and Community Volunteers Stuff the Bus for Charity
The Willamette Valley Medical Center (McMinnville, OR) community outreach team wanted to give something back to the community this year, so they asked the community to help “stuff the bus” with food and toys for the holidays. In 24 hours, with the help of more than 75 hospital and community volunteers, the team collected 2,238 pounds of food, 350 toys and $150 in cash.
The food and half the toys will go to the local food bank. The other half of the toys have been donated to Henderson House, a shelter for survivors of domestic violence.
Organizers are thrilled. “We wanted to get out and give something back to the community,” said Jill Addison, program director at the hospitals’ Wound Care Center and chief cheerleader and organizer of the event. “I heard they were going to cancel the toy event this season because they didn’t have enough funding.”
Besides the benefit of feeling good about such a success, Jill is looking forward to another payoff: “I’ve been invited to Henderson House this Saturday to serve breakfast and watch the kids open the gifts we got for them. I’m going to cry, but it will be worth it.”
Operations Team Helps Feed the Homeless
Colleagues from Capella Healthcare’s Operations Division volunteered their time at the Nashville Rescue Mission recently. The Nashville Rescue Mission is dedicated to helping the hungry, homeless and hurting, striving to restore hope and transform lives by offering programs that focus on spiritual growth, education, employment and life-recovery. Visit their website to learn more at: www.NashvilleRescueMission.org
Capella’s corporate office also recently concluded its inaugural United Way Campaign, announcing impressive results and a fun celebration of success. Read more below.
Capella Healthcare’s Corporate Office Staff Pledges $25,000 Through United Way Campaign
COO Keeps Promise to Shave Head
Capella Healthcare’s Chief Operating Officer Mike Wiechart puts his money where his mouth is… or at least where his hair was! In kicking off Capella’s corporate office United Way campaign in November, Wiechart promised to have his head shaved if the 60+ employees raised over $10K. He had to pay up on Friday, December 9, when the staff celebrated success.
In a surprising twist, several employees chipped in additional dollars last week to have the privilege of taking just one swipe of Wiechart’s hair with scissors, with the highest additional contributor or “bidder” earning the honors of doing the actual head shaving. In all, the staff of 65 raised $25,000.
Wiechart thanked his colleagues for an “amazing inaugural campaign,” reminding them that their generosity will “help strengthen and uplift those in our communities who need a helping hand. Meals to school children who would otherwise go without, visits to the lonely elderly, and emotional and physical healing to those victimized by sexual assault are just a few examples of what will be made possible by your incredible generosity.”
His final parting words (for his hair): “I regret that I have only one head of hair to give.”