HCA Florida Englewood Hospital held a Back-to-School Supply Drive for caregivers and nursing students

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. August 2, 2023 –  HCA Florida Englewood Hospital helped nursing students and students of caregivers prepare for the new school year by hosting a "We Show Up School Supply Drive" throughout the month of July.
 
The hospital collected enough backpacks and school supplies to provide 13 students a quick start on their back-to-school needs. 
 
You will usually see volunteer Stew Kessler on the courtesy cart shuttling patients and visitors around the Englewood Hospital campus. Today, he made a different kind of delivery. He dropped by the school supply drive to donate 19 - 14.1 inch laptops with Windows 10 for the students. 
 
"I think it's great timing for the kids to receive these laptops for school. They will enjoy it and use it. Full access to the internet will allow them to write papers and do anything in email they need to do. It's perfect for them," said Kessler.
 
“Stew Kessler is one of our volunteers who shows up for our patients through sharing their time and talent. He ensures that patients and visitors have easy access from parking to the hospital on our courtesy cart. Now he’s showing up for our caregiver families with his generous gift of technology. We are so thankful for Stew and all of our volunteers for the many ways they give back to our community,” said Steve Young, CEO of Englewood Hospital.
 
Sarah Kaltreider, a registrar for Englewood Hospital, stopped by to pick up her school supplies after working her night shift. She said, “This is really great for the hospital and my fellow colleagues to provide for my family of four children. From this all the way back to the hurricane support, our leaders go above and beyond for us. I have been here for over two years now and the culture is so positive. I’d like to give a special thank you to the volunteer, Stew, who donated the laptops for my family. I still have added expenses as a result of the hurricane and getting my kids ready for the new school year is expensive. I’m blown away, appreciative and grateful. I would never be able to do this for my kids.”
The school supply drive will also provide every nursing student at State College of Florida a new set of medical shears along with other supplies. 
 
Learn more about HCA Florida Englewood Hospital, and follow the hospital on Facebook.