Florida Hospital Flagler Employees Help S.T.U.F.F. the Bus

PALM COAST, Fla., June 20, 2016On June 6, Florida Hospital Flagler staff brought school supplies to donate to the Flagler County Education Foundation STUFF Bus a surplus school bus transformed into a mobile store. The acronym STUFF stands for Supplying Things U Find Fundamental and provides supplies to local school children in need.

This bus distributes everything from school supplies, toiletries, and essential clothing items, to local children in need. Throughout the year, teachers, counselors and school nurses reach out to the Flagler County Education Foundation when they identify students in need.

Florida Hospital Flagler employees donated $2,500-worth of items, filling 12 storage boxes. Staff also offer cash donations to support the STUFF Bus, giving more than $250.

We've supported the STUFF Bus for the past five years, but this year was incredibly moving as this was the largest collection made by our employees, said Edilson Goncalves, Florida Hospital Flagler chaplain. Our employees have tremendous, giving hearts and they truly love caring for our neighbors in need.

According to the Flagler County Education Foundation, at least 6,300 students in Flagler County are in need of support. Approximately 50 to 70 percent of Flagler County students are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program and an increased number of families are homeless.

About Florida Hospital Flagler

Florida Hospital Flagler is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 46 hospital campuses and nearly 8,200 licensed beds in 10 states. With 99-beds, Florida Hospital Flagler is one of the six Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties that composes the Florida Hospital East Florida Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region has 899 beds and nearly 5,900 employees. With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region collectively contributed nearly $120 million in benefits in 2015 to the underprivileged, the community's overall health and wellness and spiritual needs, and capital improvements. For more information about Florida Hospital Flagler, visit www.FloridaHospitalFlagler.com.

Photo Caption:

On June 6, Florida Hospital Flagler employees donated $2,500-worth of items, filling 12 storage boxes for the Flagler County Education Foundation STUFF Bus, a surplus school bus transformed into a mobile store for local school children in need. From left to right: Florida Hospital Flagler chaplain Edilson Goncalves; Florida Hospital Flagler chief financial officer Cory Domayer; Florida Hospital Flagler CEO Dr. Ron Jimenez; Florida Hospital Flagler chief operating officer JoAnne King; Flagler County Education Foundation Treasurer David Alfin; Florida Hospital Flagler cardiopulmonary manager Bryan Seiple; Florida Hospital Flagler chaplain Ney Ramirez; and Florida Hospital Flagler chief medical officer Dr. Ron Thomas.