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Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesVolunteers Pitch in to Clean Up JFL

Volunteers Pitch in to Clean Up JFL

Students from Central and Complex high schools, from left, Ciyora Julius, Whitney Gooksol, Deshaun Charlemagne, Joanne Christopher and Leon Cruz work together to clean the parking lot at JFL.Volunteers were out in force Saturday and Sunday sprucing up the Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center.

About 200 volunteers painted, sealed blacktop, landscaped and cleaned the outdoor areas for the hospital’s Weekend of Service. The cleanup is in preparation for an upcoming inspection by federal regulators.

Malika Felix, manager of facilities support, said the maintenance department was stretched thin, so it was great that the volunteers are helping.

“It’s good to get some of the work done,” Felix said. “I can check things off my list.”

The hospital had some of the materials and got loads of donations.

Eusebio Christian, of ECTAB Services, donated a load of gravel that was placed in the flower beds instead of mulch. The beds along the entrance sidewalk have been adopted by the Christian family, who will maintain the area.

From left, Patricia Canegata, Francis McFarlane, Malika Felix and Gloryvee Christian-Krieger volunteer Sunday at JFL.Gloryvee Christian-Krieger, an employee in the JFL accounting department, said her morale is “through the door” when she sees how pretty the beds look.

Employees gave donations for the purchase of plants that were placed around the hospital, indoors and out. Volunteers with plant and landscaping knowledge offered suggestions as to where topiaries, crotons, hibiscus, vinca vines, palms and more could be planted. The planter in the lobby entrance was filled with pretty, lacy ferns, making it pleasing to the eye for those entering into the hospital.

Youth volunteers painted the curbs yellow, red or blue to designate parking. Volunteers painted the first floor and halls leading off of the main corridor. The emergency department will be taken care of by the maintenance team. The entrance corridor and lobby floors got a good buffing and waxing. The folks at Carlos Furniture and Bargain Furniture donated new furniture for the lobby.

Pamela Sanes, director of recruitment and co-coordinator of the JFL Weekend of Service, said Deepak Bansal, chief financial officer at JFL, was on his hands and knees Saturday painting the baseboards of the walls.

Central High School students Ciyora Julius, left, and Juderis Rivera, paint the parking lot curb.Hospital staff volunteered along with Barry University staff. Youth from the Dolphins Swim Team and St. Croix Educational Complex and St. Croix Central High School students helped out. Isaac Schaeffer, of V.I. Pastoral Institute, was working alongside the youth and keeping an eye on them as they cleaned up the parking lot. Members of the Twin City Lions Club and students in Women’s Coalition Project Link also volunteered.

Sanes said many other individuals helped, giving their time or materials.

Sen. Clarence Payne was out Sunday applying blacktop sealant, coating the driveway under the canopy at the entrance.

“JFL is a lifeline and we have to take care of what is ours,” Payne said. “We need to come out and do this every six months.”

Sen. Kenneth Gittens said he noticed two weeks ago how the hospital could use some sprucing up.

“I heard about the cleanup, so I decided to come out and give some of my time.”

Gittens said. Sen. Nereida "Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly helped out on Saturday

Francis McFarlane, who stopped after church Sunday to lend a hand, said he was raised to help out any way he can.

“Everyone should do this,” McFarlane said. “Coming together and doing good things is what unity is all about.”

Sanes said the cleanup was truly a community effort .

“The community understands the importance of our hospital,” Sanes said. “Lets face it; we all want the best when we’re sick. We want a nice clean environment. People are so happy to help they’re asking if we’re going to do the cleanup again.”

She added the weekend was a re-launching of the JFL volunteer program. Wendy Wheeler was co-coordinator with Sanes.

Sanes said Dr. Kendall Griffith, interim CEO, felt it was a good idea to get the community involved.

“He saw a need and had a vision,” Sanes said.

Some of the donors were Caribe Do-It-Center, Dominos, Napoleon’s Pizza, Annaly Farms, La Reine Chicken Shack, Coke, and Frito Lay.

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