Wayne HealthCare Foundation Announces Vicky’s Closet

Wayne HealthCare Foundation Announces Vicky’s Closet

Vicky Henderson was a long-time employee at Wayne HealthCare. She was an amazing social worker and served so many patients and families in need during her time at the hospital. Her heart showed in her work each and every day. Vicky passed away in 2021 at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer. Vicky served Wayne HealthCare helping others for 38 years.

At the hospital we continue to sometimes struggle to best equip patients with basic needs, such as providing proper clothing and hygiene items, when they may be discharged from the hospital. Many times a patient may come in as a result of an accident and may have clothing cut away from them to be properly treated. Other times we have patients that may have a harder economic situation at home or are homeless and need items upon discharge as well to keep them warm and safe. Vicky’s Closet was set up for these needs.

With a grant from Wal-Mart, we were able to setup a small clothing/hygiene closet to assist our patients upon discharge from the hospital to make sure they can return home comfortably and safely. This closet, named in Vicky’s honor and memory is to embody the spirit of serving others, a spirit she carried with her in her work each and every day, always being loving and creative in solving issues for our patients during their times of need.

Wayne HealthCare was honored to have Vicky’s family in to see the closet and how this will best serve our patients. We are also honored to have wonderful partners such as Wayne HealthCare Foundation, Wayne Hospital Auxiliary, and Wal-Mart community grants to make this project possible. We have five wonderful volunteers that serve to set-up, organize, and keep inventory stocked for this new project. All of these volunteers are retirees of Wayne HealthCare and we are very thankful for their commitment to our hospital in their retirement as well as their love to serve our community. The team at our local Greenville Wal-Mart were incredibly helpful as well with our volunteers when they shopped with the grant to initially setup the closet and we want to thank them for that assistance.

When the community sometimes asks how they can get involved in these projects, monetary donations to Wayne HealthCare Foundation are the best way to assist with replenishing the closet and serving our many health programs for our patients in need. Donate online or learn more at www.waynehealthcare.org/foundation. We are also thankful for our community’s support, as some service organizations and school groups have asked to do monetary fundraisers as well as hygiene or toy drives to help with these projects. If you have a group interested in this, please contact Wayne HealthCare Foundation to learn more about these projects and specific needs.