|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2005
Illinois
Nursing Homes Reach Out to Help Hurricane Katrina
Victims
(CHICAGO)
–Thousands of residents, employees and family members
from nursing homes across Illinois are reaching out to
assist the victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
Through food collections, clothing drives, fundraisers
and other charitable endeavors, these individuals are
making a real difference in the lives of those who have
been devastated by this terrible tragedy.
“The
nursing home residents want to do whatever they can to
help the victims,” said Myrtle Klauer, director of
resident services for the Illinois Council on Long Term
Care. “We are all working together to let the
survivors know that there are thousands of elderly
Illinois citizens who care deeply about their
well-being, and that they are constantly in our thoughts
and prayers."
Here
are some examples of specific facility programs. For
more information about nursing homes in your area,
contact Kevin Kavanaugh at 773/478-6613.
CHICAGO
Brightview
Care Center, Chicago – Brightview is collecting baby clothes, towels, toilet paper, soap,
clothes, food items, and teddy bears to be given to
“Donation Station” affiliated with Catholic
Charities and the Chicago Bulls. (Contact Nathan Davis,
773/275-7200)
Lakeview
Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre, Chicago
– The facility is holding a food and clothing drive
from September 7-17. In addition, the residents are
creating a large card to send to Louisiana State
University, the largest medical facility for Katrina
evacuees. (Contact Justin Lisy, 773/348-4055)
Mayfield
Care Center, Chicago – Mayfield is hosting a food drive over the next few weeks, with
employees and family members bringing in non-perishable
food items. (Contact April Brownlee, 773/261-7074)
Washington
Heights Nursing and Rehab Center, Chicago – Washington Heights in collecting
clothing, household items and monetary donations for the
American Red Cross. (Contact Melody Parks, 773/298-1177)
NORTHERN
SUBURBS
Abbott
House Nursing Home, Highland Park – Abbott House held an in-house sale of donated
clothing, with the proceeds given to the American Red
Cross. When the check was sent in, the residents
personally signed a “good luck” message to the
survivors. (Contact Fred Karm, 847/432-6080)
GlenBridge
Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre, Niles – GlenBridge has been raising funds and
collecting clothing for the American Red Cross. In the
future, the facility will be gathering school supplies
and baby clothes for the victims.
(Contact Olivia Carey, 847/966-9190)
Lake
Cook Health and Rehab Center, Northbrook – The residents have been holding a variety
of fundraisers, such as food sales and car washes, to
raise money for the victims, with the facility matching
proceeds dollar for dollar. A resident whose family
lives in Mississippi is spearheading the program.
(Contact Shelley Martinez, 847/564-0505)
Lee
Manor, Des Plaines – Lee Manor has been collecting monetary contributions, as well as
clothing, pillows and blankets, to be donated to the
Salvation Army. They have solicited community
contributions through articles in area publications and
posting on the Web sites of local television stations.
(Contact Melissa S. Trinidad, 847/878-3005)
Park
Ridge Care Center, Park Ridge – Park Ridge Care Center provided housing to a
wheelchair-bound Katrina victim who was airlifted in
from the disaster scene. This victim lived at the
nursing home for a week and received donated clothing
and supplies. He
is now staying at the home of an American Red Cross
volunteer. (Contact Rob Weisz, 847/825-5517)
Pinnacle
Health Care, Waukegan – A group of staff from Pinnacle has traveled down to Mississippi
with a suburban and rental truck filled with tens of
thousands of medical supplies to help out the victims.
They have spent days working at a nursing home that has
accepted 70 new patients from another facility destroyed
by the hurricane. They
have also been working at shelters serving the frail
elderly and patients with special needs. (Contact Susan
Kolle, 847/249-2400)
Terrace
Nursing Home, Waukegan – On September 6, Terrace hosted a candlelight vigil for
residents, staff and families to pray for the victims of
Katrina. The facility is also collecting funds to be
forwarded to the American Red Cross.
(Contact Kathy Plescher, 847/244-6700)
SOUTHERN
SUBURBS
Briar
Place Nursing Center, Indian Head Park – Briar Place employees are donating money
for victim relief to be matched dollar for dollar by the
facility’s management company. Employees are also
donating clothing to the American Red Cross. (Contact
Sue McCarthy, 708/246-8500)
Lydia
Healthcare Center, Robbins – Throughout September, Lydia is sponsoring a long
roster of fundraisers including ice cream socials, a
pie-throwing contest, bake sales, car wash and a live
auction with prizes donated by the facility’s
executive directors. (Contact Maggie Olson,
708/385-8700)
Riviera
Manor Nursing Home, Chicago Heights – Employees have been asked to make donations to
the relief victims, with the facility matching their
contributions dollar for dollar. (Contact Richard
Potekin, 708/481-4444)
WESTERN SUBURBS
Community
Nursing and Rehab Center, Naperville – Community Nursing is collecting monetary
donations to be given to the relief fund of the Aurora
Christian School, where more than 70 evacuees will be
staying. The facility is also accepting canned food
goods for the Northern Illinois Food Bank. (Contact
Sherri Walton, 630/355-3300)
Maplewood
Care Center, Elgin – The residents and staff decided to collect personal care items for
the victims, including shampoo, deodorant, shaving
cream, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, to be given to the
American Red Cross. They have posted neighborhood flyers
and issued press releases asking for donations,
resulting in many contributions from the community.
(Contact Kim Shelton, 847/675-7979)
Snow
Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Lisle
– Snow Valley employees are donating money for victim
relief to be matched dollar for dollar by the
facility’s management company. Employees are also
donating clothing to the American Red Cross. (Contact
Sandy Larson, 630/852-5100)
Tower
Hill Healthcare Center, South Elgin – Tower Hill has initiated a fundraising campaign,
with proceeds donated to the Tribune McCormick
Foundation. Tower Hill is matching dollar for dollar up
to the first $1000 collected. The facility has also
offered rooms for victims in need of skilled care, and
will be making a donation of supplies to the Elgin
Mental Health Center, which is helping the survivors.
(Contact Jeremy Amster, 847-697-3310)
DOWNSTATE
Willow
Creek Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Belleville
– Willow Creek is collecting new and used clothing,
food and hygiene products to be donated to the St. Louis
area shelters housing Katrina survivors. (Contact Pam
Owens, 618/397-8400)
#
# #
The Illinois Council on Long Term Care is a
professional association of nearly 200 nursing
facilities committed to quality residential health care
in Illinois through a productive and responsible
partnership between the private and public sectors. The
Council represents more than 26,000 nursing home
professionals serving more than 37,000 residents. For
more information on long term care issues, please visit
the Illinois Council’s Web site at www.nursinghome.org.
|
