74.0°,
Mostly Cloudy A delivery close to their hearts
NUMC reaches out to Haitian employees, donates food and water
Jean Pierre and Jean Saint Marc are accustomed to preparing the loading dock for deliveries at the Nassau University Medical Center, but never had one hit home as much as their Friday afternoon task.
That is because Pierre and Saint Marc were helping their colleagues load food, water and clothing into a truck to be shipped to their devastated homeland of Haiti.
Though Pierre and Saint Marc have been settled in Uniondale with their immediate families for years, they still have loved ones back in Haiti, which remains in chaos after a record earthquake struck the Caribbean nation on Tuesday.
At the East Meadow hospital on Friday, about 200 cases of non-perishable food, 300 cases of bottled water, and several articles of clothing were sent to be transported to Haiti. Traditionally, when the NUMC replenishes its food and water supply for emergencies, it donates it to a local food pantry. This time, NuHealth decided to donate the supply for relief efforts in Haiti.
The NUMC's effort is being led by Dr. Lambros Angus, the hospital's trauma director and an official for the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad.
The NuHealth System, which operates the NUMC, is reaching out to nearly 200 of its employees of Haitian descent and members of the communities its serves to aid them and their homeland during the current crisis.
NuHealth hosted two drop sites for clothing at the Carman Avenue entrance of the NUMC campus in East Meadow and the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale.
"It's nice that we can do something as a facility to support them and their families," said Theresa Giangarra, NUMC's director of Food and Nutrition.
NuHealth is offering all affected employees emotional support services and grief counseling, while also providing them with a chance to speak with Human Resources in case they decide to take time off to visit Haiti in the coming weeks.
Read more on this story in the Jan. 21 issue of the East Meadow Herald.
Other Haiti-related stories from around Nassau
Elmont rallies for Haiti quake victims [Video]
Nassau County to aid earthquake victims
