Sale of hospital wear to benefit chaplain service

Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Med-surge coordinator Christa Miller (left) and Putnam County Hospital Chaplin Steve Williams (right) display some of the hundreds of scrubs that will be on sale at PCH this Friday. All proceeds will be donated to the Putnam County Chaplaincy Association.

Putnam County Hospital Staff will sell the scrubs off their backs Friday to help fund a program that they believe in -- the Putnam County Chaplaincy Association.

Chaplain Steve Williams has been providing spiritual support to patients and employees of Putnam County Hospital for three years, and according to the event's organizer, many staff felt it was time to give back.

"He does it all," said PCH med-surge coordinator Christa Miller. "He's on call 24-7. If we have a need and we call him, he will always come."

Offering bedside prayer, end of life comfort, friendship and even the occasional ride home, Miller says that the chaplain has become a large presence at the hospital.

When Williams caught wind of the fundraiser, however, his modesty kicked it, and according to Miller, he suggested that the proceeds go to a staff member who is battling cancer, rather than to funding the chaplaincy.

"That's just the kind of guy he is," Miller said -- suggesting he is much more comfortable giving than receiving.

Though he is also a local pastor, Williams views his long-time role as chaplain as part of his identity. In fact, Williams says that his work at PCH can be more rewarding that his typical duties as a church pastor, delivering sermons on Sunday.

"The chaplain role is so fulfilling for me. It meets an immediate need," Williams said. "I'm not preaching a sermon here, I'm living the sermon."

Benefit

Though the role of chaplain has modest funding from the United Way and through private donations, PCH staff had decided to empty their closets and sell off their scrubs to give the program an extra boost.

The scrub sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 1, in the first-floor classroom at PCH and is open to both hospital employees and the public.

Scrubs will be available in a variety of colors and patterns and will be separated by size ranging from small to 3X. All jackets will be sold for $5, while tops and pants will be sold for $4.

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