Coats drive a success

Community Memorial Hospital employees are “spreading the warmth” to patients in need.

Laurie Korby, hospital foundation executive director, and Jeff Hakala, Thrivent financial advisor, decided that they wanted to bring their organizations together for a community service project, one that would give the hospital and clinic employees the opportunity to help their patients outside of their eight-hour shifts.

Korby found a willing group among the hospital’s quality improvement team. The foundation, Thrivent, and the quality improvement team spearheaded a coat drive for hospital and Raiter Clinic patients in need.

They gathered donations of new coats from employees and community members. Once collected, Thrivent matched the donations, new-coat for new-coat, up to $2,500 worth.

The patients in need were invited to stop by, try on, and take home a new coat.

Folks who showed up after the coats were gone were referred to the Salvation Army northern Minnesota field representative, who was able to meet the needs.