MEC donates to Ascension- Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital

Published 8:39 am Thursday, August 8, 2019

DOWAGIAC — Though few would ever call a chemotherapy a pleasant experience, oncology staff at Ascension-Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital are hoping patients can enjoy a few small comforts that were made by possible by a recent donation.

The Borgess Lee oncology department was recently chosen by Midwest Energy and Communications to be the recipient of $500 worth of snacks and drinks for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments at the hospital. The hospital received $250 late last month and will receive an additional $250 worth of snacks and beverages in November.

Items donated include Gatorade, soda, trail-mix bars, pretzels, beef jerky and more.

“Our patients have been really liking the salty snacks because sometimes treatments can affect your sense of taste,” said Penny Cooper, a registered nurse at Borgess Lee. “A lot of our patients are here for two to six hours, depending on their treatments, so it’s nice for them to have a little snack here and there.”

The donation was given through MEC’s employee-funded program called Midwest Employees Give Back, a charitable fund that is operated, governed and funded by the employees of MEC on a voluntary basis. Through the program, employees can nominate an individual or organization for financial support, and the governing body makes the final award determination, said Patty Nowlin, MEC vice president of corporate communications.

“Since we started the program, MEC employees have supported many individuals and organizations with tens of thousands of dollars in support,” Nowlin said. “These are not co-op dollars, but rather money donated by our employees. [For Borgess-Lee] one of our employees wrote a request in honor of a member of our extended employee family who is undergoing treatment at Borgess Lee. This individual regularly supplies snacks and goodie bags for patients at Borgess, and the governing body of our MEGB program felt that was worthy of our support and donated $500 worth of goodies to support and honor her efforts.”

Cooper said she was grateful for the donation as it provides a “small comfort” to patients going through a stressful experience. Cooper said the donation would benefit the oncology department, which averages about 40 patients per week.

“It’s important,” Cooper said. “This is just really super awesome that [MEC] did this.”

So far, patients have responded well to the donation, with Cooper saying it has inspired some of her patients to donate to snack fund themselves.

Those looking to donate other snacks to the oncology department can contact the hospital at (269) 782-8681.