October 7, 2022 – The response to help those NCH Healthcare System employees impacted by Hurricane Ian from our community near and far, has been nothing short of remarkable. That show of support for our healthcare workers was on full display today at the NCH Business Center, 1100 Immokalee Rd. in Naples as collected supplies and donations were passed out to NCH staff who, during the storm, set aside their own personal needs to tend to the healthcare needs of our community.
Our friends at Nicklaus Children’s Health System in Miami, who collaborate with NCH in providing exceptional pediatric care to our patients here in Collier County, donated nearly 20 pallets of bottled water and scrubs for distribution to NCH staff members in need. Those donated scrubs were added to the work uniform and shoe donations already generously contributed by Sew Shore Uniforms of Naples as well as those collected by our own NCH employees for their colleagues.
Today, storm-impacted NCH staff, of which more than 150 had severe losses from Ian, were able to get bottled water and other needed supplies for their families as well as work uniforms for themselves courtesy of our own staff’s collection efforts in addition to the donations supplied by Sew Shore and Nicklaus Children’s Health System.
“All of us at Nicklaus Children’s are committed to doing what we can to support our NCH colleagues, and the children and families of Southwest Florida,” said Matthew Love, President & CEO, Nicklaus Children’s Health System. “We have worked with emergency management agencies and impacted hospitals to provide support, including transporting children to other regional hospitals for care, including our own, and we are honored that our physicians are taking care of the region’s children in the pediatric and neonatal units at the NCH North Naples campus. Today’s delivery is an expression of our concern for the wellbeing of our colleagues here in Naples. We look forward to our continued work together to support the children and families of Southwest Florida as we work to recover from this devastating storm.”
“It is often said that the worst of times can bring out the best in people, and that was apparent today from the wonderful outpouring of support for our devoted staff, some of which suffered losses as a result of Hurricane Ian,” said Paul Hiltz, President & CEO, NCH Healthcare System. “I cannot thank our own family of employees enough for the kindness they have shown their colleagues, as well as for the support and very generous donations made by our friends at Nicklaus Children’s Health System and Sew Shore.”
Donated water and scrubs will continue to be passed out to storm-impacted NCH healthcare workers through 8pm tonight.