BJC In the Community

When Putnam County Memorial Hospital in Unionville, Missouri, started having issues with its CT scanner, the hospital’s CEO, Gayle Pickens, jokingly asked a colleague at Blessing Health System, part of the BJC Collaborative, “You don’t have a spare CT in your closet, do you?”

From community walking trails to annual fitness challenges, from a parenting support network to a simple pill box that organizes medications, BJC community benefit offerings have an impact each and every day.

Swimming, dancing and remembering their loved ones — these were some of the activities campers participated in at the 21st annual Stepping Stones camp, operated at no cost to campers by BJC Hospice. The three-day-long bereavement camp is offered to children ages 6-12 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Professional staff and volunteers lead the camp, which offers a safe place to explore grief, anger and fear — balanced by plenty of fun.

Having a painful, chronic disease often means missing many school days due to hospitalizations. The St. Louis Children’s Hospital hematology/oncology team held a Children’s Sickle Cell Back-to-School Bash recently to help the families of their patients prepare for a successful school year.

On Aug. 9, the fifth annual Michael Brown Memorial Weekend, presented by Michael Brown Sr.’s foundation, Chosen for Change, was held in Ferguson in remembrance of Michael Brown. The event focused on the healing taking place in the communities, as well as the work still to be done.

The BJC Learning Institute auditorium brimmed with promise, pride and gratitude as BJC HealthCare and The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis honored the third class of BJC Scholars at a luncheon and orientation August 2.

More than 800 students at Belleville West High School “feeder” elementary and middle schools received fully stocked pencil bags at an Aug. 7 event, thanks to MH emergency department staff. Staff members donated enough school supplies to fill 1,000 pencil bags.

HEALTH FAIR 2019 was held July 20 at the Ferguson Community Empowerment Center, as area residents stopped by for free health screenings and to visit numerous educational booths. HEALTH FAIR 2019 also included the Siteman mammography van. Educational booths were provided by community resources including St. Louis County Public Health, Washington University Sickle Cell Program and Stop the Bleed, among others.

Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College welcomed a group of 60 students and chaperones from the Wyman Center June 14 and introduced them to the world of nursing.

​Gearing up for a baby has different challenges for military moms. BJC Veterans Connection members supported local military families by collecting items for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter Women Warriors baby shower, a celebration for 75 active duty and veteran moms and their spouses, June 22, at Jefferson Barracks. Volunteers from BJC also organized gifts beforehand and attended the baby shower.