Drive-by parade planned to honor health care workers at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
A drive-by parade to honor health care workers at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center during the COVID-19 pandemic is planned for June 18.
“It started with calls from several neighborhoods that wanted to do a caravan around the hospital,” said Kristina Sparacino, the hospital’s director of marketing.
During the pandemic, while the hospital has been on lockdown, it has received more than 700 donations from various neighborhoods. At the same time, the 200 volunteers from the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Auxiliary have been unable to come into the hospital to lend a hand.
The drive-by parade will allow auxiliary members and residents to show their appreciation, Sparacino said.
“We hope the community will join us to express their appreciation for the long hours and commitments of the entire hospital staff during the pandemic,” said Carole Cowan, auxiliary president.
During a recent auxiliary meeting held on Zoom, members talked about how much they missed seeing patients and the staff, Cowan said.
“We wanted to see what we could do because we know the stress and pressure they are under. We want to get back to normal, but we have been under siege by a virus and have had to learn a lot in a short time,” Cowan said.
Keith Pandeloglou, executive director of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, will be leading the parade.
“We’re so thankful to have such wonderful health care professionals right in our community at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, and this is just one small way we can bring awareness to all that they’ve been doing to keep our community safe,” he said.
“We want to do more, but it is tough right now. We felt that people could be comfortable taking part in a parade, when they don’t have to get out of their car or roll their windows down,” he said.
No registration is required. Anyone wanting to take part is invited to arrive at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. and enter from the Health Park Way entrance from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The primary focus of the the hospital auxiliary is to provide scholarships for students studying to be nurses. Last year, the auxiliary presented scholarships to eight students.
“It’s really our mission to ensure we have a nursing workforce for the future,” Cowan said.
On June 1, the hospital partially lifted the ban on visits to inpatients. Each inpatient is now allowed one visitor, age 18 or older, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4- 7 p.m. daily.
Before seeing an inpatient, visitors are screened, and required to wear a mask and use hand-sanitizing gel upon entering the facility as well as entering and exiting a patient room.
For more information on the auxiliary, visit https://www.lakewoodranchmedicalcenter.com/events-and-programs/volunteer-services/auxiliary.
For more information on the parade or to make donations to the auxiliary’s scholarship program, click on tickets at https://www.facebook.com/events/261320554951113/. Parade information is also available by calling 941-757-1530.
