On Feb. 14, the St. John’s ICARE Foundation cut the ribbon to launch its Comfort Carts and Healing2Music Program that is designed to help patients, staff and their families with Comfort Carts and live music sessions.
ICARE (Innovation, Compassion, Respect and Empath) and the St. John’s ICARE Foundation supports underserved populations in southern Queens County and in southwestern Nassau County. The foundation aims to support in equipment, raise awareness and assist with special programs and community initiatives.
Longtime hospital supporter Maccy Paley, along with South Shore Community Chest, The DeMatteis Family Foundation and the St. John’s Hospital Auxiliary, helped to expand the program from “comfort bags” to a “comfort carts” that circulate throughout the hospital for staff, patients, and their family members.
Previously, comfort bags contained items to help support staff members through the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now evolved for support throughout the entire healthcare community, including patients and their families.
The carts are stocked with herbal tea, snacks and self-care products like hand cream and aromatherapy and will be circulated by the St. John’s Pastoral Care Dept stocked by the Marilyn Lichtman Foundation and the Vogler Foundation for a year.
“Little things can go a long way in making our patients, their families and our team members feel comfortable and cared for and we believe these two new St. John’s ICARE Foundation initiatives will do just that,” said Nancy Leghart, executive director of the St. John’s ICARE Foundation.
The Healing2Music program was created by Rose Guerrier, President of International Cultures United (I.C.U) Inc. In efforts to use music to soothe the healthcare community in the hospital, live performances will occur every second Tuesday of the month. These performances were funded by an online crowdfunding campaign for Giving Tuesday, which occurs the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
