By Kelli B. Skipper
In the middle of Hurricane Matthew’s devastating aftermath, Southeastern Health (SeHealth) and the Southeastern Health Foundation Board recognized a tremendous need to help their own by creating the SeHealth Hurricane Matthew Employee Relief Fund.
According to Alisia Oxendine, director of guest services who assisted with the needs assessment and distribution process for the relief fund, more than 60 SeHealth employees were temporarily or permanently displaced from their homes and/or lost their vehicles when Hurricane Matthew devastated the area on October 8. In addition, numerous other employees experienced additional hardships, including damaged homes and property.
With the effects of the storm, SeHealth employees needed assistance and an outlet was necessary to channel the outpouring of support the organization was receiving from outside vendors, health care facilities from across the state and southeast region, and the local community. In an effort for SeHealth to take care of its own employees, like employees Gladys Scott and Ivory Oxendine, who had lost so much, the employee relief fund was established.
Scott began her shift in the food services department the day the storm hit. While Scott and other food services staff continued to prepare and serve food at the hospital during the storm, her home was being destroyed by the rising water.
Following the storm, Scott said she felt at peace because her family was safe and didn’t really get emotional until she was contacted by the SeHealth Relief Fund team.
“It was the first time I shed a tear during Hurricane Matthew.,” said Scott about being contacted by the relief effort team. “I thought I was strong but I broke. I felt the love,” said Scott. Scott was given a care package by the employee relief fund that included food, water, clothing, blankets and other essential items.
In the days following the storm, the employee relief fund committee distributed 22 care packages to employees in immediate need.
Ivory Oxendine, an inpatient clinical assistant on the obstetrics unit at Southeastern Regional Medical Center, also received a care package from the relief fund and, when asked how it made her feel, she said, “I was overwhelmed. I just didn’t know that people cared so much.”
Ivory Oxendine’s family, including her three children, had to evacuate to safety on October 10 after the water had risen in their home to knee-deep level. According to Ivory Oxendine, they were waiting on boat assistance but feared help would not arrive in time. So her family was forced to wade through water up to their chest, almost a half mile, with the children on their backs in order to reach safety.
Ivory Oxendine said that because of the help of her co-workers, family, friends and the community, her family has been able to rebound from the devastation to their home and vehicles.
“People have been so nice. All during this time, my co-workers really stepped up and went above and beyond for me,” Ivory Oxendine said. “They made sure we had everything we needed. I don’t know how I can ever repay them.”
The SeHealth Hurricane Matthew Employee Relief Fund team assessed all requests by employees and offered some initial assistance to those in immediate need. Plans are underway to offer additional help in the near future.
“People do take care of people and this was the worst devastation Robeson County has ever had,” said Sissy Grantham, executive director of the SeHealth Foundation. “Southeastern faced much adversity. In spite of the circumstances, we kept on and have responded to the needs of our community and our employees through the generosity of member of our community as well as our nation.”
“One hundred percent of the money raised for this effort will benefit our employees who have been impacted by this devastating storm,” added Alisia Oxendine. If you are interested in making a contribution to the employee relief fund, please call the SeHealth Foundation at (910) 671-5583 or email foundation@southeasternhealth.org.
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