Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers

Hospital Staff Repair and Rehabilitate Residential Home

For the second year in a row, volunteers from Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers participated in United Way of Eastern LaSalle County’s Labor of Love, a one-day blitz that focuses on helping the poor, elderly and disabled. The annual event addresses home maintenance needs of community members who are not able to do the chores themselves and cannot afford to hire laborers.

Gathering at a home in Ottawa, a team of altruistic Morris Hospital employees accomplished a lot in four hours, including:

  • Repaired a wheelchair ramp;
  • Power-washed the house;
  • Installed a replacement window screen;
  • Added a gutter and new downspout extension to prevent rainwater from entering the basement;
  • Re-insulated the upstairs bathroom ceiling where a leak had caused damage;
  • Installed smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.

“I find it very rewarding to help make someone’s home a little more comfortable and secure,” said Carmela Shea, a patient service representative at Morris Hospital’s Ottawa Campus.

“The homeowner was very grateful,” added Belinda Hill, a physical therapy assistant. “This was a very humbling experience.”