Brought to you by AdventHealth
At AdventHealth, the care for the community goes far beyond caring for the sick. The national health care system lives by its mission, Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ. In our area, AdventHealth operates hospitals in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hardee, Marion and Highlands counties and puts its brand of uncommon compassion into action to help keep people in those communities feeling whole and staying well.
“Health care systems across the nation are seeing firsthand the true impact of COVID-19 and its effects on community needs both medically and socially,” said Mike Schultz, President and CEO, AdventHealth West Florida Division. “We are all in this together and we want to provide programs and initiatives that support others in a multitude of ways.”
That includes outreach such as food delivery, educational support and spiritual grace.
At AdventHealth Ocala, the hospital’s spiritual care and nutritional services teams partnered with Meadowbrook Church to help more than a dozen non-profits feed over 700 people each week in the county.
“The effects of COVID-19 started to put a lot of strain on our community non-profits that provide meals for those in need in our community,” said Chaplain Gregory Cain, Director of Pastoral Care at AdventHealth Ocala. “They [non-profits] were having a hard time getting donations. There was no question. We were ready to help.”
Each week, the hospital nutritional services team prepares the meals to be delivered to each non-profit to feed those in need.
Hope and healing come in many forms, and for the Spiritual Ambassadors at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, they took their passion for care on the road and delivered 55 goody bags filled with Easter cards for residents of Alimar Assisted Living in Hillsborough County. Their hope: to share God’s love and lift the spirits of the vulnerable senior citizens in the facility.
When the effects of COVID-19 began to take a toll on schools, the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA switched gears from afterschool care to providing relief care for the children of medical personnel, first responders and other essential workers. AdventHealth stepped in to make sure every YMCA location had infrared thermometers to allow staff members to screen anyone arriving at the centers.
That extension of service to schools expanded into Florida’s Heartland where AdventHealth Sebring stepped in to help the School Board of Highlands County by donating 1,900 bags for students to take home Chromebooks for e-learning.
“We are in unprecedented times, but we’ve been part of this Heartland community for more than 72 years and we are committed to caring for all who need us no matter the circumstance,” said Randy Surber, president and CEO of AdventHealth Sebring.
COVID-19 has had a profound impact on a number of communities in a number of ways, but like those we serve, the team members at AdventHealth are resilient, focused on caring for the community and hopeful that together, we will rise.
