The Pillowcase Project, led by the INTEGRIS Health Enid Volunteer Services Auxiliary Program, aims to provide a comforting and personalized experience by offering each new patient a special pillowcase during their stay to take home with them upon discharge.
The auxiliary plays a crucial role in this initiative, generously sewing the linens and donating them to the Pillowcase Project. The need for this partnership and the pillowcases arose when requests for thicker, more comfortable pillows were received through patient surveys and weekly rounding reports.
After reviewing these concerns, Steve Atwood, director of behavioral health at INTEGRIS Health Meadowlake, submitted the materials change for consideration to INTEGRIS Health Enid Hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer, Kenna Wilson.
“Kenna and I coordinated with the hospital’s environmental services department, who helped us find another option,” says Atwood. “The request was approved to move forward with purchasing the thicker pillows to replace the current pillows within the facility. During this time, Kenna mentioned how it would be nice for the patients to have a personal pillowcase they could use while they are here and take home with them.”
Not every pillowcase is the same. Each linen has been individually sewn with love and care. “We currently have a handful of volunteers who have shown interest in the Pillowcase Project and were the ones who sewed and donated the current pillowcases we have for the program,” says Amanda Jordan, manager of volunteer services and gift shop at INTEGRIS Health Enid Hospital. “Individuals who may not have the ability to dedicate volunteer time at our facilities, in person, now have an additional opportunity to help.”
“Something as simple as a pillowcase can be a blessing most of us probably take for granted,” Wilson says. “For some of our patients having a pillowcase of their own at home is a luxury.”
INTEGRIS Health Meadowlake is a Joint Commission-accredited and OKDHS-licensed psychiatric hospital and behavioral health facility treating children and adolescents. If you or someone you know has a passion for sewing and is interested in partnering with the volunteer auxiliary program to provide pillowcases to the Pillowcase Project, please call 580-548-1113.
