Crothall Associates Pack Love into Suitcase Drive for Foster Youngsters

Suzy Lohman felt compelled to behave when she realized that foster kids handled at Cincinnati Youngsters’s Hospital Medical Heart typically lacked correct baggage for his or her belongings. Impressed by a hospital publication request for suitcases, duffel baggage, and backpacks, Suzy launched a drive amongst EVS workers to gather these important gadgets. Many foster kids, she knew, relied on trash baggage to hold their garments and private gadgets between houses and hospital visits. 

With approval from EVS Resident Regional Director of Operations Adam Wilhite, Suzy shortly engaged roughly 424 EVS associates throughout the hospital’s 4 campuses. The challenge, held in January, coincided with a service initiative in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 

Led by the EVS staff on the Liberty Hospital campus, Crothall associates collected about 150 suitcases, duffel baggage, and backpacks. Hospital-wide, roughly 400 gadgets had been donated to native charities, with the bulk going to the hospital-supported foster care program. 

“One motive this system was so profitable is that donated gadgets didn’t should be new—they may very well be gently used,” says Suzy, who donated a duffel bag. “So, IT may very well be a suitcase somebody already had at house. Ultimately, we collected so many baggage that the hospital despatched somebody to choose them up.” 

EVS technician Amanda Holcomb donated a number of foldable duffel baggage. “I felt I wanted to contribute as a result of I wish to assist anybody in want,” Amanda stated. “I need foster children to have one thing good to hold their belongings.” 

Alyssa Binik-Thomas, Coaching Supervisor, stated motherhood impressed her donation. “As a mom of three, IT damage to know kids in foster care had been carrying their issues in trash baggage. My kids had outgrown their Trunki suitcase, and I didn’t hesitate to verify at the very least one youngster had one thing of their very own. Youngsters in foster care deserve love and the primary requirements of life. That is the naked minimal we will do.” 

A Particular Trophy for Crothall 

To acknowledge the Crothall EVS staff, Cincinnati Youngsters’s held an awards breakfast, presenting a trophy to the staff. The hospital additionally shared photographs, a video with AI-generated pictures of kids (to adjust to HIPAA), and information tales on the intranet. 

“The breakfast and trophy had been an exquisite shock,” says Lohman. “IT’s one other instance of sturdy management on the hospital and the way a lot they worth everybody right here, together with Crothall.” 

“The Crothall staff supplied the most important share of donations, and we needed to point out our appreciation,” says Haley Shropshire, the hospital’s neighborhood engagement director.  

Crothall leaders plan to repeat the suitcase drive yearly, aiming to gather at the very least 150 gadgets subsequent yr. 

“For our associates to step up and supply the most important quantity of donations is heartwarming,” says Paul Easthon, Regional Director of Operations. “Their generosity, empathy, and dedication to the kids made this effort particularly significant.”