Each year Jefferson Community Health & Life asks the community’s help in completing a special project for patients, residents, and visitors. This year, JCH&L is seeking donations for three special projects which will benefit our community—a renovation of the JCH&L Gardenside long-term care dayroom, new lights for the helicopter pad, and a new elliptical trainer for the JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center. We hope to raise at least $41,000 for these three worthwhile projects.

Renovation of the Gardenside dayroom is much needed. An estimated $20,000 will allow JCH&L Gardenside to reconfigure the area to make it the most useful and comfortable for residents. The project will include replacing carpet, paint, and some furnishings. JCH&L Gardenside residents and their families spend a lot of quality time in the day room and it should be comfortable and convenient for them.

The JCH&L helicopter pad has been used an average of more than 19 times a year for the past four years for emergency air transport. It is and is literally a lifesaver in some emergency situations. Flight staff are well trained and provide critical care when in transit to a trauma center. Star Care 5 provides air ambulance service to JCH&L. The pad needs some updating, including new lights, which is anticipated to cost about $15,000.

The JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center provides fitness opportunities for our area residents. The elliptical training machines are very popular, and one is in need of replacement. The Precore elliptical is a provides excellent cardio exercise with less stress on joints than a treadmill and it inclines to work even more muscle groups than other ellipticals. This popular machine will cost about $6,00o.

Donations of all amounts are welcome and will make our project successful. All contributions will be recognized in the fiscal 2024 annual report for Jefferson Community Health & Life and the Jefferson Health Care Fund. Contributions may be made in honor of someone living or in memory of someone who has passed away.  Memorial gifts are recognized each year in a newspaper ad prior to Memorial Day. All donations of $1,000 or more will be recognized with a plaque on the Wall of Honor, and contributions of any amount are counted toward cumulative recognition.

Those who would like more information should contact Lana Likens at 402-729-6855, or by emailing lana.likens@jchealthandlife.org.