Holy Cross Hospital implemented several community outreach initiatives to serve Broward County’s most vulnerable residents in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
Holy Cross Hospital physicians and Associates:
– partnered with Florida Senator Gary M. Farmer, Jr. and Florida Representative Patricia H. Williams to serve 500 meals to families in need at Deerfield High School;
– delivered food and water to patients and their families through the Holy Cross Medical Group infectious disease office of Drs. M. Gorensek and Carlos Guerra;
– participated in RESTORE954 in partnership with the Urban League of Broward County, Broward County Public Schools, United Way of Broward County, JM Family Enterprises, Church United City of South Florida, the Miami Dolphins, Broward Sheriff’s Office and the City of Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Holy Cross Hospital provided nurses who triaged and worked with fire rescue to address the needs of diabetics who had run out of test strips; patients who had run out of their medications and were unable to refill them because pharmacies remained closed; and those experiencing current health issues. As a result, more than 100 residents were treated and four were transported to the local emergency room for active seizures, cardiac issues and hypoglycemia;
– partnered with Oakland Park, Margate and Boca Raton Fire Rescue teams to collect donations for necessities that were delivered to residents in the Florida Keys, with an escort by the Federal Police; and
– along with volunteers and community partners, delivered 2,000 additional three-day disaster meal packages to those in need throughout Broward County, focusing on older homebound residents who had no power and no other opportunity to receive the food they need. This initiative was funded by Jewish Federation of Broward and Community Foundation of Broward.
In preparation for hurricane season, Holy Cross also delivered five-day, shelf-stable disaster meal packages to seniors over 65 and coordinated the distribution of an additional 850 five-day disaster meal packages for seniors that were distributed by Chen Medical staff through a grant from CBS Eco-Media and Chen Medical.
