HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital has been a supporter of Crisis Nursery of Effingham County since its beginnings in 2017. Recently, St. Anthony’s colleagues and other community members stepped up in the month of September to offer support for a new service provided by the Crisis Nursery.
Meghan Rewers, executive director of the Crisis Nursery of Effingham County, became a certified car seat technician in June 2021. To offer support for this needed service, St. Anthony’s held a drive for brand new, still-in-box car seats amongst their colleagues and community members through the month of September. Through the drive, eight new car seats were donated to the hospital, along with $1,225 in contributions made to the HSHS St. Anthony’s Foundation which were used to purchase 13 additional new car seats. In total, 21 new car seats were donated to the Crisis Nursery.
Ashley Dillingham, St. Anthony’s manager of case management, outpatient behavioral health, guest services and volunteer services, had the idea to hold the drive in September to coincide with September being National Child Passenger Awareness Month. Dillingham shared her appreciation for the colleagues and community members who contributed to the drive. “The services that Crisis Nursery of Effingham County provide helps us take care of the health and wellbeing of our community as our Mission calls us to do, even outside the walls of our hospital,” she said. “I am so grateful for our colleagues and community stepping up and supporting the Crisis Nursery in this way. This will help the Crisis Nursery provide a safe car seat to those whose current car seat may not pass inspection.”
Rewers is grateful for the support received through this drive. “Since I became a certified car seat technician in June, the Crisis Nursery has given out 15 car seats to those whose current ones did not pass inspection. This is an extension of our mission to protect children from harm, so I am so thankful to St. Anthony’s for conducting this drive and donating these much-needed car seats.”
The Crisis Nursery of Effingham County continues to accept donations of brand new, still-in-box car seats. For more information, contact Meghan Rewers at director@crisisnurseryofeffingham.com.
Photo Caption: Representatives from HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital present Meghan Rewers, executive director of the Crisis Nursery of Effingham County, with just some of the car seats donated through the hospital’s car seat drive held in September. Left to right: Michael Wall, director of philanthropy; Chad Markham, president and CEO; Rewers; Bobbi Kinkelaar, chief nursing officer; and Mike Janis, executive director of ancillary and outpatient services. Absent from photo: Ashley Dillingham, manager of case management, outpatient behavioral health, guest services and volunteer services, who coordinated the car seat drive.