Instead of another fruitcake or box of chocolates, Dr. Roger Marshall with the Heartland Regional Health Clinic decided to do something different for his employees this Christmas. He made a donation to Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas to support women and families in need, and he made the gift in the name of his employees.
“Catholic Charities has done so much over the years to support our patients and our community in countless ways,” Dr. Marshall says. “Our employees truly care about the welfare of our patients, so this was a unique way that I could show my appreciation for their hard work but in a more meaningful way.”
Catholic Charities, formerly known as Catholic Social Services, is a nonprofit organization that has provided services for people in need, regardless of faith, since 1965. The mission of the agency is “to honor human potential through service, advocacy and invitation, in the spirit of the Gospel, so that every person can experience hope and fulfillment. Services include infant adoption, pregnancy counseling, teen mom support, healthy marriage and relationship classes, counseling for addiction, relapse prevention, and mental health, economic assistance, and disaster relief throughout southwest Kansas.”
To make sure that Dr. Marshall’s donation could impact as many lives as possible, Great Bend Regional Hospital matched his contribution for a grand total of $500 donated to the local charity.
“One of the most unique things that Catholic Charities does is provide a non-food pantry with items such as diapers and formula for new moms that can’t get those much-needed supplies from other local organizations,” said Rachel Mawhirter, marketing director for the GBRH. “Since so many of our patients are mothers, we want to make sure that they are well cared for during the holidays, regardless of their economic standing.”
The non-food pantry also provides household supplies such as paper towels, toilet paper, and cleaning products along with hygienic items like deodorant, toothpaste, and much more. Donations are accepted at any time, but the greatest need is during the winter months. For more information about Catholic Charities, visit www.catholiccharitiesswks.org.
Great Bend Regional Hospital is a state-of-the-art 33-bed physician owned hospital offering emergency and urgent care services, orthopedics and general surgery, obstetrics and pediatrics, imaging and diagnostics, respiratory therapy, physical and occupational therapy, an in-house laboratory, and more. Learn more at www.gbregional.com.