In early October, Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers staff hosted a campaign to raise funds to help support the Stephen F. Austin Community Health Network in Alvin, Texas, in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
The fundraiser, which was also open to the community, raised more than $1,250. Nearly 600 pairs of new socks also were collected to send to the Texas health center’s staff and families.
“During the most difficult times in our lives, it’s nice to know that you have someone in your corner,” says Ezreal Garcia, Business Development & Special Projects Officer for the Stephen F. Austin Community Health Network. “In the aftermath of Harvey, we were approached by Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers in Wisconsin to offer their help and support. Well, we took them up on that offer.”
As a community health center, Scenic Bluffs recognizes the importance of “community,” according to a press release prepared by Scenic Bluffs. When the opportunity arose to support another community health center that was faced with the destruction of Hurricane Harvey, staff at Scenic Bluffs decided to help.
Mari Freiberg, CEO of Scenic Bluffs, said, “We made the decision to support our sister community health center because we understand what it is like to recover from flooding. We know what it takes to rebuild, and we understand that when others show us support, it helps. We know ‘community’ extends far beyond our four walls.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Stephen F. Austin Community Health Network has been providing medical and oral healthcare in a mobile unit to Hurricane Harvey evacuee sites, treating minor injuries, providing vaccinations, maintaining chronic-disease care and bringing dental services on site.
Donations raised by Scenic Bluffs and the surrounding communities will help support the mileage associated with transportation to and from shelter sites. These efforts also will help directly help staff, who lost homes and belongings in the storm.
“The staff at the Stephen F. Austin Community Health Network is doing hard work, and it is important to us to make sure they are also able to meet their personal needs,” Freiberg said. “This effort helps assure that people continue to have access to primary care in Alvin and other places during the rebuilding.”
In addition to staff and individual community support in fundraising efforts, Pasture Pride Cheese, located in Cashton, sent staff at Stephen F. Austin Community Health Network a taste of Wisconsin with a box of its award-winning cheese.
Penny Pabst, director of development for the Stephen F. Austin Community Network, said, “Scenic Bluffs and your community’s generosity have been like a comforting blanket enveloping us in your care. We’ll never forget what you’ve done to lift our spirits.”
Independent and nonprofit, Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers provides medical, dental, chiropractic, behavioral health, health education and pharmacy services for patients in Monroe, Vernon, Crawford and La Crosse counties.
Scenic Bluffs has health centers in both Cashton and Norwalk, dental services in Viroqua and behavioral health services in Sparta. Scenic Bluffs also maintains Lugar de Reunion, a Hispanic outreach center, in Sparta.
