Representatives from the Healthcare Foundation presented a $100,000 check to SSM Health officials on Thursday. Those funds will cover costs associated with South Central Transit drivers taking patients to and from the hospital.
St. Mary’s Hospital President Damon Harbison says the partnership between the Healthcare Foundation, SSM Health and South Central Transit is a crucial one for many in the Centralia area who are in need of medical care.
“One of the things we’ve got to partner up with together on is this transportation, because there are so many people that go without going to their wellness appointments, going to their exams, their lab work, getting their medicine. Even when they’re here in crisis, when they’re getting discharged, then they don’t have a ride home. So we want to be able to remove those barriers, and the Healthcare Foundation partnership has made that possible.”
The Healthcare Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps people in the Marion, Jefferson, Clinton and Washington County area who have unmet medical needs. Healthcare Foundation board members include Keith Kessler, Christy Kuder, Barb Norstrom, Geni Zibby, Brian Gansauer, Ellen Boczek, and Janice Albers.
Harbison notes that there was a great deal of planning leading up to the donation, but it has been a worthwhile effort.
“This was, what, two years in the making. Christy, Keith, myself, a couple others met, and said ‘We see this need. How in the world are we going to make a difference? Let’s be very smart about it.’ It took a good two years to figure it out, on how we could maximize the funds that we had, and they wanted to make a difference, and we wanted to serve the population. So that combination together, we made a success.”
Those seeking assistance with transportation or other needs can find an application on the Healthcare Foundation Facebook page.
