This past summer, southern Wisconsin – including the town of Janesville – dealt with a flurry of five tornadoes. Undaunted by its trauma, the region opened its heart to parts of the Southeast impacted by Hurricane Helene and created a successful Hurricane Relief Drive, filling a 44-foot RV owned by an SSM Health nurse with supplies and food.
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Janesville and SSM Health Dean Medical Group – Janesville East invited the community to help with the drive, and thousands of products ranging from paper towels to diapers, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, small children’s gifts, non-perishable food, and more, were gathered.
The RV is owned by SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Janesville Family Birth Suites RN Devin Rivera, who is driving the supply-laden vehicle to Orlando, Florida.
Rivera will be handing the RV over to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials, who will be utilizing it for basic housing to help first responders in the many months of recovery to come.
FEMA will also help to distribute the collected items to those most in need.
“When we were loading the trucks with all the donations, it was like an early Thanksgiving - I am awed by so many things about this quick drive to help others,” said SSM Health Chaplain Randy Booth. “I am struck by how generous the people of Janesville and SSM Health employees are.”
The relief drive was steady each day it occurred, and the SSM Health team came together to empty donation bins 5-6 times a day, in addition to organizing and labeling boxes of goods.
“By our final day we realized we'd be measuring the donations in terms of pallets,” Booth said. “I hope those who open the door to that camper are in as much awe about Janesville's generosity and thoughtfulness as I was when I was loading it.”
