Philly Leader

Staff from three units of the Temple University Hospital (TUH) Main Campus recently volunteered at Gift of Life Howie's House, located in Philadelphia. They prepared a meal for the residents, all families of patients undergoing lifesaving organ transplants. Director of Nursing Services Marie Ciceron led the teams from 7 North Boyer, Neuro ICU, and 8 Boyer in this initiative.

Krystal Cartagena, Associate Director of Nursing Services for 7 North Boyer, shared: "We wanted to give back to the community, but we also wanted to bring people together." The idea to volunteer arose from an ICU committee meeting in collaboration with Gift of Life. Staff either donated their time or contributed funds to buy necessary ingredients for the meal.

Cristina Ciuciu, Associate Director of Nursing Services for the Neuro ICU, added, "Some staff members donated their time, and others donated money so we could purchase ingredients and goods for Howie's House."

Collaboratively, the team crafted a diverse menu for approximately 50 residents of Howie's House, featuring options like chicken, pasta, tomato sauce, and cookies. The event was well-received by the residents, as Ciuciu noted, "Our team members really had fun, and so did the people we served."

Cartagena mentioned the gratitude received: "We got a really nice thank-you card from Howie’s House just last week, telling us, ‘The chicken was so delicious, and the salad was so fresh.’ It was great to know they appreciated it."

The organized event also helped strengthen team bonds. Cartagena explained, "We’ve been trying to foster a sense of team spirit," adding that the event allowed staff to interact more personally. The involvement of family members enriched the experience further.

Indira Kwaadu remarked on the fulfillment gained from the endeavor: "Any time I have the opportunity to give back, I do, because community outreach is so important to me."

The event's success has the team looking to resume more community service activities aligned with the level of engagement prior to COVID-19. Cartagena expressed a sentiment of rediscovering joy through these efforts.