SMECO Employees Support Local Organizations
Posted by Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative
Pax II
Employees of Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) recently donated more than $13,300 to three Southern Maryland organizations that help low-income residents receive medical care and prescriptions. The three groups, Calvert Healthcare Solutions, Health Partners of Charles County, and Health Share of St. Mary’s County, will each receive $4,448.95.
SMECO raised the money through the 2012 Charity Golf Tournament, supported by a group of volunteers, vendors, and the SMECO executive team. The Co-op selects a different organization each year to benefit from the fundraiser. According to Richard Jarboe, SMECO supply chain director, “Sponsoring the event is a lot of work, but we enjoy pitching together with SMECO’s supply chain partners to help our community. We are grateful for the donations and sponsorships our vendors provide; they make up a significant portion of the proceeds.”
“As the only free clinic in Charles County, we provide significant services to local residents,” said Kit Wright, President of the Health Partners Board of Directors. “We will use these funds to support our transportable dental unit, which serves four local elementary schools. Through this program, we reach children who have limited access to dental care and provide on-site cleanings, screenings, fluoride, and sealant treatments.” Wright added, “SMECO is a glowing example of how a co-op willingly participates in the social fiber of its local community.”
Ella May Russell, president, explained how the SMECO contribution would help Health Share of St. Mary’s: “We provide assistance to more than 2,200 clients, and that number is steadily rising. Health Share is a non-profit, all volunteer program, and all the money needed for services is obtained through private fund raising and contributions. We are grateful that SMECO recognizes the needs of our organization, which works with the low income uninsured and under insured adult population of St. Mary’s County who qualify for medical care and prescriptions at a minimal cost.”
“Enrollment in the Calvert Healthcare Solutions program has significantly increased over the past few years as we have improved our ability to identify and reach out to eligible residents. Not only do we provide access to medical services, we help our clients navigate through other available community resources. Residents receive access to medical care, mental health care, laboratory and radiology care, and prescription medication through a foundational network of community partners,” according to Mike Shaw, Executive Director. He added, “Our clients constantly express their gratitude for the assistance they receive. On behalf of our clients and staff, we echo that sentiment and gratefully say thank you to SMECO, its employees, and vendors.”
