BELLINGHAM, Wash.– PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center wants to express its gratitude and appreciation to the Whatcom County community. Over the past several months since COVID-19 began impacting our region, this community has never wavered in expressing its support to PeaceHealth healthcare workers.
To date, hundreds of businesses, organizations and individuals have come forward to donate supplies, food and funds to ensure a safe, healthy and supportive environment for PeaceHealth caregivers and patients. Key facts include:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) arrived from a wide variety of generous sources -- from students and makers who crafted the equipment using their own ingenuity and innovation, to community members who’ve dropped off unused items discovered tucked away in their garages, to small businesses who’ve stepped forward with full cases of valuable protective equipment. Locally produced 3D printed face shields are among the most popular items among caregivers and many fabric masks were distributed to our patients and visitors for their personal use.
- More than 65 businesses and organizations have donated meals, treats, snacks and beverages to keep healthcare workers nourished and energized as they’ve made sacrifices to work on the frontlines—many on an ongoing basis.
- The hospital has received hundreds of cards and letters from the community with messages of support, which are displayed throughout the facility and continue to inspire caregivers.
- The PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation board generously committed $71,000, and we have recently raised $10,200 in donations for the COVID-19 Caregiver Heroes Emergency Fund. This fund was initiated to support PeaceHealth employees who have experienced financial hardship because of the pandemic.
“We are beyond grateful for the incredible support of our community. I want to thank everyone for allowing us to do our part in caring for our patients, while you’ve been doing your part by supporting us, wearing masks, social distancing and washing your hands,” said Charles Prosper, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center’s chief executive. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before. Our community has truly rallied around us to ensure that we can provide a purposeful, safe and healing environment for anyone who enters our doors.”
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About PeaceHealth: Based in Vancouver, Wash., PeaceHealth is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center provides quality care for northwest Washington with its full-service 253-bed hospital and PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics. Key services in Bellingham include comprehensive cardiology, oncology, orthopedic and rehabilitation services and a joint venture outpatient imaging service. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
