Local News

Camden Clark group paints Jefferson Elementary for Day of Action

PARKERSBURG -- A group of volunteers from Camden Clark Medical Center spent the day at Jefferson Elementary School on Wednesday doing painting in the building.

Participants in the hospital's Laurence B. Mallory Leadership Academy spent the day painting two hallways at the elementary school. Officials aligned their service Wednesday with the United Way's 2017 Day of Action when groups nationwide would be doing volunteer work in their communities.

The Leadership Academy is a year-long program that takes eight employees annually to teach them leadership skills, said Nancy Brooks, director of organizational development at Camden Clark. Part of that commitment involves doing service projects in the community, she said.

''(Wednesday) we are working with Jefferson School which is our Partner In Education school and we believe that since Camden Clark is the community hospital, it is important that we are represented,'' Brooks said. ''Our core values give us direction that we should be involved in the community.''

Mallory, a CPA and former member of the Board of Directors at Camden Clark, was supportive of the education and development of hospital employees.

''Because of him, we have the legacy to keep going because Larry was so supportive and involved in the community,'' Brooks said.

The hospital had 25 people, including current and past participants in the academy, working at Jefferson Elementary.

The hospital donated around 25 gallons of paint for the project as well as the brushes, rollers and other materials used.

''We decided we wanted to do Jefferson School since they are our Partner In Education,'' Brooks said.

The work accomplished Wednesday at Jefferson will prompt the participants in the academy to come back and want to do more.

'' Not everyone can leave the hospital at the same time,'' Brooks said. ''We will probably have another work day and have other people to come as well.''

The aims of the academy are to instill a sense of community involvement within the participants as well as give them a broader view of health care.

''We certainly tie in that they have some accountability to the community, because of us being a community hospital,'' Brooks said. ''I hope that every time we go out and do events like this they realize that there are special needs in the community that many organizations can't pay to have people come in to do.''

Their work instilled a sense of teamwork and camaraderie.

''I always watch to see how the leaders evolve,'' Brooks said. ''There are always one or two who will step up and say this is how it will be done.

''It is kind of fun to watch how everyone does their little skill set and how it helps accomplish a whole team project. Everyone has different gifts. It is nice to see them all come together.''

Cathi Emerick was one of the people involved in the Leadership Academy at Camden Clark.

''Part of what we do is help out with service projects,'' she said. ''We wanted to come and help them out with some painting.''

Being a community hospital, employees want to get out and be part of the community.

''We like to help out in the community as much as we can,'' Emerick said. ''We like to do a bunch of community efforts.''

Terri Richards was another participant doing painting work at the school Wednesday.

''We always want to give back to the community,'' she said. ''That is always part of the values Camden Clark has. We want to give back to the community whenever we can. It is a great thing to do.''

Community support is important for those at the hospital and those who rely on the hospital.

''Camden Clark wants to show the community we do support them,'' Richards said. ''They support us and we want to be a part of the community.

''Anything we can do, big or small, is very important.''