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Local Voices

Botsford Hospital employees support favorite charities

If you or a loved one has received care from a member of Botsford Hospital's staff, you probably have a sense of their compassionate nature. Taking care of others is more than a job for most folks at the Farmington Hills hospital. Their empathy extends into the community through giving generously to many charitable organizations. 
 
"It has been a most generous year for giving at Botsford. Besides the ongoing charities we are sponsoring, I have heard stories about our employees giving from their hearts and wallets to help people in need [Read another great giving story at www.botsford.org/blog ]," said Amy Bowes, program coordinator, Botsford Employee Services Department. "In addition, Botsford employees donate some of their accrued paid time off to help needy coworkers and to benefit The Botsford Foundation. What amazing gifts we give to each other and the community!"  
 
American Red Cross – Botsford employees roll up their sleeves to give blood at American Red Cross Blood Drives held at the hospital. In 2013, 111 donated pints of blood. Each blood donation helps up to three people in need. 
 
Gleaners Community Food Bank – According to Bridget Green, community relations manager, Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, Botsford employees' generous donation of 851 pounds of food and cash donations will provide 754 meals to those in need. "GREAT JOB! Thank you for choosing Gleaners and supporting our mission to nourish communities by feeding hungry people! Thank you so much for championing this drive! I was honored to be a part of your Winter Wonderland employee event last week; it was amazing to see the employees at Botsford really helping the community. Through the donations provided to us and to the other organizations, the number of men and women who asked for information on volunteering and how to get involved, and the ones who stopped by to tell me their stories of support for Gleaners, I truly believe Botsford is the most generous hospital I have ever seen. It was a pleasure to meet so many of your caring employees who really want to make a difference." 
 
Michigan Humane Society – From the MHS Facebook page: "Thanks Botsford Hospital for holding a food drive for the animals in our care! You guys rock!" Botsford staff donated a tremendous amount of items listed on the MHS wish list, including food, old blankets and newspapers, and pet toys. Comments to this Facebook post included:  
 
- Sylvia Fitzpatrick's comment: "Thank you. I wish other bigger hospitals did the same." 
- Bert Willis Ybarra's comment: "Aww...Awesome...More businesses should do this." 
- Botsford's own Amy Bowes' comment: "We at Botsford are going to continue the drive indefinitely! They picked up another carload yesterday, and already I have several more bags of dog food! Botsford employees are the best!" 
 
Salvation Army – A long-standing tradition with Botsford employees is to "adopt" a desperately needy local family, providing that family with clothes, toys, food, and many other much-needed items. Moreover, employees are also donating to an ongoing toy collection for needy families that don't get adopted, so no child goes without presents at Christmas. 
 
Toys for Tots – Botsford staff filled two large boxes of toys to be donated to the Toys for Tots program this giving season as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community. "Botsford Hospital's Toys for Tots drive was very successful this year, and we look forward to partnering with them again next year. All toys collected in this community stay in the community until the need is met," said Rebecca Perelli Yarbrough, regional area coordinator, Toys for Tots of West Oakland County and Northwest Wayne County. 
 
PHOTO CAPTION: 
Donated gifts for the Michigan Humane Society fill the enormous table in Botsford Hospital's boardroom. From left, Amy Bowes, program coordinator, Botsford's Employee Services Dept.; Sarah Nagel and Nicole Senczyszyn from the Michigan Humane Society (in front); Ronni Geary of Botsford's Human Resources Dept.; and Botsford's President & CEO Dr. Paul LaCasse.

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