The Pinehurst-based health-care system has given $40,000 to Moore Friends, earmarked specifically to go toward gift cards for the employees of Hancock Medical Center in Bay St. Louis, Miss. — Moore’s adopted town.
The total that FirstHealth will give to Moore Friends, including the amount specified to go to hospital empoyees, will eventually exceed $80,000.
Moore Friends expects to receive the rest of the money before the end of the year. It’s going to come in handy as Moore Friends locates some more long-term projects to take on, Quis said.
“It will be used for a variety of projects yet to be determined,” Quis said.
The first part of the FirstHealth contribution will allow each employee of Hancock Medical to receive a $100 Wal-Mart gift card. Employ-ees can use the money for whatever they need. They can buy food, clothes or Christmas gifts.
FirstHealth promised some time ago to match funds that employees pledged to the local United Way campaign and give the matching funds to hurricane victims.
“We felt like part of our generosity should go to our counterpart in Bay St. Louis,” said Charles T. Frock, CEO of FirstHealth.
The money is being channeled through Moore Friends because Moore Friends is the hub of Moore County’s charity efforts to help Bay St. Louis.
Part of Moore Friends’ mission is to match businesses in Bay St. Louis with businesses here that might be able to help.
“This was a great way to match the employees at FirstHealth with their counterparts at Hancock in Bay St. Louis,” said Frank Quis, chairman of Moore Friends and mayor of Southern Pines. “It’s a very generous contribution and should have a positive effect on the hospital employees. I’m sure this time of year, the monetary gift cards are something they can use to fulfill their needs however they see fit.”
FirstHealth has done much for Hancock Medical Center already by donating beds and medical equipment. Frock said FirstHealth feels like the local hospital is a part of a town’s infrastructure and that by helping the employees, it is helping the town.
“When people start coming back, they need to know that they have health service available,” Frock said. “That’s what it is all about.”
Frock said that FirstHealth felt that matching funds was important because it wanted to send the message to its employees that the needs in areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina area are great, but so are the needs at home.
The strategy worked and the employees came through with their greatest-ever contribution.
“There has been a record response,” Frock said. “That’s so nice to see.”
An organization like FirstHealth owed it to the community to step up and help bear the burden, Frock said.
“We all have limitations on what we can do despite the generosity in our hearts,” he said, which is why FirstHealth wanted to be a part of the healing process. Both causes are important. Let’s work together.”
FirstHealth isn’t the only organization that is trying to get gift cards down to the people of Bay St. Louis.
A local group called Kids for Catastrophes is trying to get $25 gift cards to be distributed to students in the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District.
To provide $25 gift cards to 800 children in time for Christmas, the group needs to raise $20,000. The gift cards will be going out by the end of next week. Those wishing to contribute can contact Moore Friends.
Matthew Moriarty can be reached at 693-2479 or by e-mail at moriarty@thepilot.com.
Those wanting more information on Moore Friends for Mississippi can call 693-2474 or e-mail moorefriends@thepilot.com. One may also visit the Web site at www.katrina.thepilot.com.
