Since the beginning of the pandemic, the outpouring of support from our community has been overwhelming. People have done everything possible to make our health care team feel supported and loved—from homemade masks and parades in their honor to significant monetary donations. During this most difficult time, your outreach has helped to lift our spirits and protect the staff when they needed it most.
Heroes Honoring Heroes: The Toms River Fire Department and other local municipality first responders honored our health care team with a 3.5-mile-long parade of fire engines, ambulances and other emergency response vehicles. They surrounded the hospital to show their appreciation while a massive American flag hung over the hospital entrance. Hundreds of team members came outside to watch the parade, and patients and other staff members watched and waved from the windows above. The Toms River Fire Department also provided dinner for staff following the parade.
Fuel for the Team: Staff prepare to deliver nearly 600 ice cream sundaes and 90 pizzas and drinks to the evening shift at Community Medical Center. This special delivery was provided by members of the Community Medical Center Medical Staff, who are members of MOCAAPI (Monmouth Ocean County American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin). The organization is a longtime supporter of the hospital and works to improve the overall health of the community at large.
Fundraising Support: A Need We Feed and Farro’s Tees partnered to support the Community Medical Center team. Staff at CMC benefitted from their efforts, enjoying delicious pizza and T-shirts specially designed by Farro’s. From left: Daniel Wong, RN; Cliff Baker, A Need We Feed co-founder; Karen Rawls, RN, Director of Patient Care Services, CMC; and Lisa and Dominic Farro, owners of Farro’s Tees.
Children's’ Specialized Hospital (CSH): The Long Term Care team of CSH in Mountainside thanks the Front Line Appreciation Group for a donation of breakfast sandwiches.
KEEPING US IN CAFFEINE: Toms River coffee shop Bubby’s
Beanery and their generous customers have made daily coffee
and tea deliveries possible to the grateful staff of Community
Medical Center. Their connection to CMC runs deep—the
owners’ son, AKA “Bubby,” was born at the hospital. Seven
years later, they are still touched by the care and dedication of
the nurses, doctors and staff they met.
Leggings by LuLaRoe: Twyla Orosz, a Community Medical Center employee (center), coordinated with area LuLaRoe sales representatives to donate more than 400 pairs of leggings to her fellow CMC workers, complete with inspirational messages. She provided them so her colleagues could change out of their scrubs and into clean clothes before returning to their homes and families. She presented the donation to Donna Bonacorso, RN, Chief Nursing Officer (left), and Teri Kubiel, RN, Vice President, Patient Experience and Community Affairs (right).
The Office Restaurant & Lounge: Nick Pagano, Treasurer, CMC Foundation Board of Trustees, and manager of The Office Restaurant & Lounge (center), organized multiple food donations to the hospital through the generosity of others in the community. Many individuals purchased meals to help support the frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19. Nick and restaurant employees line up for the distribution of food.
To share your thanks or make a donation in support of our health care heroes, visit www.rwjbh.org/give.