Sept. 27, 2005 –In 1995 Schneider Regional Medical Center was hit hard — as most other facilities in St. Thomas were — by Hurricane Marilyn. It took years to recover. Even though Hurricane Katrina did not hit the island, it did hit home to many island residents, some of whom have relatives in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. That's why administrators at Schneider Regional Medical Center challenged its 600 employees to raise $10,000 within two weeks, with the hospital and its clinic on St. John pledging to match that amount. No one at the hospital thought the employees would raise more.
On Tuesday, the hospital presented a check to the local American Red Cross for $24,335 for the Katrina Relief Fund. Employees –– everyone from housekeepers to nutritionists to medical doctors –– gave cash and checks ranging from as low as $20 to as high as $3,000, raising a total of $14,335.
"When our CEO came to me and said what do you think about a match (dollar for dollar) for this, I paused," said Schneider Regional Chief Financial Officer Peter Najawicz. "We're not the most financially well off organization, but I did say that with the Red Cross, we'd have the reciprocal support if we would have a disaster here."
Rodney E. Miller, Sr., president of Schneider Regional, was born in Monroe, La., and still has relatives in that state.
"We still have hurricane season in effect, and we all hope and pray nothing like that comes here, because our islands are fragile. But we know there are folks out there in the world who will come out and support us just like we came out and supported the hurricane relief for Katrina," Miller said.
Chairperson of the hospital Board, June Adams, spearheaded the initial idea to give money for the relief effort.
"Even though Hurricane Katrina and Rita did not touch our shores, I'm quite sure that almost everyone here in this room has a member of your family or a friend who was impacted. I know I was. I have several nephews who live in Texas. The one from Houston, I hope made it to San Antonio, although I haven't heard yet."
Jane Wherren, interim executive director of the American Red Cross of the Virgin Islands, said she felt like she came home when she came inside the 250-bed hospital.
"When I came inside these doors, I was thinking about the outpouring of heart that went into donating into this fund. I remember my days working in hospital administration talking about the caring environment –– well, folks, you are indeed a caring environment……and your generosity doesn't stay here at the hospital, or with your neighbors, it goes to the world," she said.
The St. Thomas chapter of the Red Cross is sheltering more than 15 people from Louisiana and Texas at the University of the Virgin Islands and elsewhere. Wherren said. "These people have come down here hoping to find shelter and go back to their homes, and we're assisting them with that."
One hospital employee, Nurse Berda Kimball, is part of the national Red Cross team helping out relief efforts in Louisiana.
"This just shows what we're about, and when we pull together as an organization, we can accomplish just about anything," Miller said.
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