Group gives $400,000 in 2020
The Friends of Reading Hospital have provided $400,199 in funds to aid hospital departments and community organizations since Jan. 1, the organization announced.
The group is marking its 130th anniversary with a Year of Giving, with a focus on how it can support hospital patients, families and staff as well as community organizations.
Along with traditional giving, the Friends have developed a COVID-19 Emergency Grant initiative.
COVID-19 donations totaling $196,158 include support for:
• Reading Hospital Outpatient Therapy Community Wellness pilot program to provide virtual yoga and mindfulness classes that will be shared on BCTV and social media.
• Science Research Institute to host a virtual summer camp and alleviate program fees for financially distressed and underserved students who wish to participate.
• Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading and Berks County offering free graband-go meals for youth in Western Berks.
• Helping Harvest to fund increased food purchases and distribution during the pandemic.
• Hannah’s Hope funds to help provide transportation to mothers and children as well as for COVID-19 relief.
• Berks EMS to purchase additional personal protective equipment.
Other recipients include Berks PPE Resource Network, SAFE Berks, John Paul II Center, Berks History for Victory Garden and Kickstarter Kits, Prospectus Berco, Day Springs, and the LGBT Center of Greater Reading.
The Friends also provided grants totaling $204,041 for:
• Tower Health Transplant Institute Patient Assistance Program to provide patients in financial need for basic living expenses.
• Patient comfort items such as knit baby hats, reading glasses, prayer shawls, neck pillows, playing cards, eye masks, chemo caps and ice packs.
• Berks Farm Bucks to help bridge the gap between access and affordability of fresh produce for community residents at Penn Street Market.
• BCTV to offer first aid and CPR training.
Hospital programs and departments that received grants are neurology, Stuffed Animal Therapy, Child Development Center, Children’s Health Center, diabetes and endocrinology, Miller Regional Heart Center, Women’s Health.
Other community-based recipients include Hannah’s Hope, Freedom and Restoration for Everyone Enslaved and HeART of Music.
“The Friends are proud to be able to provide financial support to organizations within our community thanks to the thoughtful and generous contributions of our donors and sponsors,” said Lucine Sihelnik, Friends president. “During these uncertain times it is imperative that we continue to provide access to these critical services to keep our family, friends, and neigh