Just days after Hurricane Charley devastated the west coast of Florida, employees at Parkway Regional Medical Center pulled together to help the victims in Punta Gorda, many of whom had lost nearly everything they owned.
Jim Rookey, chief cardiovascular technologist in the cardiac catherization lab, along with Parkway Regional Medical Center staff, organized a supply drive and arranged for a plane that he personally flew to Punta Gorda to help victims of Hurricane Charley.
A donation drive was quickly organized by Jim Rookey, the Chief Cardiovascular Technologist in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. Jim, a major in the United States Air Force Civil Air Patrols Homeland Security Division, contacted the Red Cross and other agencies to find out what supplies were needed, secured a plane and volunteered to fly it to Floridas devastated west coast.
On Monday, August 16, just days after the hurricane struck, Parkway employees received an email asking them to donate anything from toiletries, clothing and blankets to diapers and baby formula. Many employees survived Hurricane Andrew 12 years ago and were more than willing to lend a hand to Charleys victims.
The response from Parkway employees was tremendous. By Saturday, August 21, they had donated more items than could fit in the plane Jim secured for the flight to the west coast. Two pallets of donated items had to be left behind and to be taken to the hurricane victims by truck later.
Jim used his military clearance and piloting skills to gain permission to land at Punta Gorda Airport, which was destroyed in the hurricane. Jim and Parkways Director of Business Development Drew Landmeier had to use maps and landmarks to find the airport and land. Air traffic was being directed from a mini-van near the runway.
Parkways donations were given to the first responders, law enforcement and medical teams, who, like many residents in the area, lost much in the hurricane but continued to do their jobs despite the personal losses. Many of them remained in shock over the devastation, but the kindness and generosity of Parkways employees helped brighten an otherwise difficult situation.
