Northwest Health Grateful for Volunteer Support
4/22/2020
It’s easy to get caught up in the worry and uncertainty during times like these. However, there has been a tremendous outpouring of support that has risen from so many community members that have rallied to support local businesses, taken extra care to check on neighbors and support those who are on the front lines of this health crisis. Local groups, clubs, churches and businesses have been creating and donating cloth masks, meals, snacks and other essentials to healthcare workers to show their appreciation.
Among the most prolific community helpers are Northwest Health’s hospitals’ own volunteers and affiliated auxiliaries. With April 19-25 being National Volunteer Week, Northwest Health salutes these community servants who are helping save lives.
“We are blessed to have so many volunteers who are dedicated to and passionate about serving our patients, visitors, staff and communities. Throughout the past year, our volunteers have donated more than 59,700 hours supporting our hospital system in areas such as information desks, registration, intensive care and surgery waiting rooms, providing community grants and scholarships through the Auxiliary gift shops, thrift store and various fundraisers, and numerous other services,” said Denten Park, market chief executive officer for Northwest Health.
“Even during the COVID-19 pandemic when regular volunteer services are paused, our team of volunteers continues to inspire hope through their spirit of giving. Many of our volunteers have provided hundreds of hand-sewn cloth masks as our health care providers and the community work together to minimize the further spread of COVID-19 in Northwest Arkansas,” added Park.
As Northwest Health implements the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on universal masking procedures, this increased access to cloth masks for nonpatient-facing staff as well as any visitors will help preserve the PPE inventory that is required for patient-facing care situations.
Lesa Tucker, director of volunteer services for Northwest Health, said, “I have been picking up (cloth mask sewing) kits and delivering them to volunteers’ homes.” Along with Volunteer Coordinator Beth Bolena at Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville, the pair deliver the kits then pick up hand-sewn masks on volunteers’ porches to ensure they’re adhering to social distancing recommendations. The hand-sewn masks are delivered to each of the five hospitals in the system: Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville, Northwest Medical Center-Springdale, Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital, Siloam Springs Regional Hospital and Willow Creek Women’s Hospital. More than 800 masks have already been made for the hospitals.
Sydney Tucker, Lesa Tucker’s daughter-in-law, and her friends have donated the cloth, elastic and other materials needed for the sewing kits. Sydney has also provided specially-crafted headbands with buttons for use in securing masks by critical care nurses.
“These allow the elastic loops to not put prolonged pressure on the ears,” said Susan Kristiniak, assistant chief nursing officer at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale. “We appreciate their support and amazing thoughtfulness.”
Sydney Tucker also made and donated face shields in addition to providing supplies, along with volunteer Fran Harrison, to make masks and put them in kits that make 20 masks for Northwest Health’s hospital auxiliaries to sew.
The masks are helping facilitate the latest CDC recommendations on universal masking procedures inside and outside of the hospitals. The new guidelines mean that, in addition to clinical staff (health care providers) wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), even non-clinical staff and hospital visitors are being asked to wear masks now.
Volunteers who are sewing masks include:
Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville
- Julie Amos
- Sheila Biggerstaff
- Sherry Burch
- Helen Jackson
- Jane McDonald
- Joan Schroeder
Northwest Medical Center-Springdale
- LueVerne Cunningham
- Margie Johnson
- Mary Ellen Johnson
- Ginny McClain
- Barbara Parsley
- Lois Short
- Rena Taylor
- Helen Winton
Siloam Springs Regional Hospital
- Annis Cripps
- Linda Grossardt
- Sharon Harrison
- Diane Miller
- Tammi Vanatta
The Arkansas Arts and Fashion Forum is also providing a significant number of hand-sewn cloth masks to help minimize further spread of COVID-19 in Northwest Arkansas, issuing a Mask Makers Challenge to supporters and members throughout the state. To learn more about their initiative, to donate, or secure patterns or supplies, visit their website at www.ArkansasFashion.org/masks/ today.
Other organizations who have donated hand-sewn masks include First United Methodist Church in Rogers along with community members Jenny Fox and Liz Szymczak who donated cloth masks to Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville’s Family Birth Place and NICU.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – such as surgical masks, gowns, plastic shields and N95 respirator masks – was given to Northwest Health by the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas, Chinese Association of NWA, Harbor Freight Tools, ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy, Northeast Technology Center in Oklahoma, Grace Chinese Christian Church and Watson Chinese School.
Daren Davison, General Manager of La-Z-Boy, Inc., donated 10,000 masks to his local hospital, Siloam Springs Regional Hospital, where he serves on the board of trustees. As part of Northwest Health, the region’s largest health system, the Siloam Springs donation benefits people throughout Northwest Arkansas.
Pernod Ricard-Hiram Walker, a Fort Smith manufacturer that normally blends and packages spirits like Malibu Rum, adjusted operations to make and distribute hand sanitizer, donating an entire pallet to Northwest Health.
In addition to masks, local restaurants and businesses have provided meals and snacks to staff while florists have brought arrangements to brighten up work areas. Sam’s Club also provided tents for a screening site.
This outpouring of kindness in the region has been a point of inspiration during a difficult time. Northwest Health would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone that has supported our co-workers and hospitals by brightening their day and for helping us take care of you.
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