SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash.– PeaceHealth United General Medical Center wants to express its gratitude and appreciation to the Skagit 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, nearly 50 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 – including Janicki Industries, Home Depot, Eddyline Kayaks, Chinook Enterprises, Skagit Rotary Foundation, PACCAR, Smiles Dental 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 from PACCAR and mask buckles from a local manufacturer are among the most popular items among caregivers and many cloth face covers continue to be distributed to our patients and visitors for their personal use.
- More than 25 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 tulips (thank you Tulip Town), lovely cards, letters and signage from the community with messages of support, which were displayed throughout the facility and on the campus. These continue to touch and inspire caregivers.
- Donors generously committed $9,500 for the COVID-19 Caregiver Heroes Emergency Fund at PeaceHealth United General Medical Center. This fund was initiated to support PeaceHealth employees who have experienced financial hardship because of the pandemic. Donations to this fund are currently being accepted.
“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 Chris Johnston, PeaceHealth United General Medical Center’s chief administrative officer. “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 United General Medical Center, a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital in Sedro Woolley, serves communities in a 2,000 square mile area in Skagit and Whatcom Counties. As well as operating a Level IV Emergency Department, key services include acute inpatient rehabilitation, general and orthopedic surgery, oncology, pulmonary and primary care. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
