Each year Marlene Roerdon, RN, clinical coordinator Center for Ambulatory Surgery at St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, NY, asks members of her staff to attend a class or perform a community service for their professional enrichment.
"When nurse Dee Keegan came to me with the idea to do a service project for the community, I suggested Mother’s Cupboard at St. Stephen’s Church in Warwick." said Roerdon. Our Mother’s Cupboard collects baby items for parents in need. Roerdon and Keegan asked nurse Deborah Kozlowski, RN, who had been a Mother’s Cupboard volunteer, for information on donations. They circulated a flier among the hospital staff members, and the donations poured in. The project is ongoing with donations collected from hospital staff and the public throughout the year in the Surgical Services Department.
"I wanted to do this to give back to the community," said Keegan. "The Mothers’ Cupboard was a perfect choice. We gave two boxes of baby items and have more to go. I want to thank all of my coworkers for their generosity. It’s a collaboration of all of us."