A group of 14 Salem Hospital employees spent time over the past several months volunteering in the community as Salem Health Community Champions. The inaugural program launched earlier this year. Managers nominated the following employees to become champions:

• Allison Afuola, professional coding
• Danielle Bouldry, finance
• Fran Franklin, sleep center
• Krystal Hill, imaging
• Christopher Holliday, nutrition services
• Kristy LeGault, imaging
• Missy Jones, nutrition services
• Yolanda Mata, sleep center
• Julie Mohr, emergency department
• Glen Morrison, information services
• Cecella Morrow, laboratory
• Allison Sandall, care management
• Reid Sund, finance
• Heart Williams, employee fitness

“We identified people who had a real heart and passion for the community,” said Leilani Slama, Salem Health vice president of community engagement. “The idea is they’ll continue to be a champion for getting their friends and family and coworkers involved — and talking more about what Salem Health is doing in the community.”

The program requires each champion to lead a volunteer project. Their efforts included:

• Members of the hospital’s finance department leading a financial literacy class for area high school students. 
• Staffers from the imaging department organizing a volunteer fair at the hospital to recruit helpers for ten Salem area organizations.
• Employees from the sleep center supplying kennels, leashes and collars to a local day center for homeless people who have pets.
• Hospital nutrition services staff offering hygiene items and a picnic for homeless people at Salem’s Riverfront Park.
• Emergency room nurses and their families helping the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties sort 2,000 backpacks for a back-to-school giveaway.

“It exceeded my expectations,” said Slama. “It was fun to be able to see them really branch out and come up with these very clever and creative ideas that meet a real need in our community.”

As for the future, the next round of nominations by hospital managers will begin in

November for the 2019 class of Salem Health Community Champions. Their volunteer projects will start shortly afterward — with a goal of continuing the program for years to come.

As for the future, the next round of nominations by hospital managers will begin in November for the 2019 class of Salem Health Community Champions. Their volunteer projects will start shortly afterward — with a goal of continuing the program for years to come.