West Jefferson Hospital Foundation Helps Oklahoma

After hearing about the devastation that occurred in Oklahoma this past May, employees and volunteers at West Jefferson Medical Center stepped up to provide help for the area. By the end of a fundraising drive on June 21, the West Jefferson Hospital family had raised more than $3000 in donations.

All of the proceeds of the drive will be remitted to the American Red Cross. “The generosity of the donors to the Oklahoma Fund of the West Jefferson Hospital Foundation will enable the Red Cross to provide further assistance to those in Moore, Oklahoma and the surrounding area,” said Jack Stumpf, the West Jefferson Hospital Foundation president. “We appreciate the positive response to the drive.”

According to the Red Cross, as of June 17, the non-profit has received nearly $26.5 million in donations and pledges for victims of the tornado in Oklahoma. Donations have allowed them to provide nearly 460,000 meals/snacks and more than 20,000 health services and mental health contacts. The non-profit intends to continue to focus on disaster relief in Oklahoma in the coming months.

In serving the New Orleans community, the American Red Cross provided critical relief efforts in the days, weeks, and even months following Hurricane Katrina. “During that period the Red Cross’s relief efforts consisted of food, water, volunteers and financial assistance centers,” said Jennifer Steel, the Executive Director of the Hospital Foundation. “We are proud of our hospital family as it has for decades reached out to our neighbors in need storm after storm, disaster after disaster. Katrina was one of the first times we reached out to help our own and the American Red Cross was right there beside us to help staff.” In addition to the Oklahoma Drive, the Hospital Foundation also assisted the American Hospital Association recently in response to Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast. Donations totaling $5,000 were provided to Hurricane Sandy Relief.

To learn more about the West Jefferson Hospital Foundation, call 504-349-2051.