Nov. 8, 2023
Assisting and Supporting Our Community’s Military Members and Families
In honor of Veterans Day this weekend, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank our community’s veterans for their service to our country, including the more than 400 veterans who currently work for Lee Health. We recognize, appreciate and honor the courage and sacrifices of veterans and their families.
At Lee Health, we have a Military Support Program that has been assisting, encouraging, comforting and supporting Lee County’s servicemen and servicewomen and their families since 2003. The Program was created and founded by Kim Gaide, community outreach program manager in our Community Affairs department. The Program supports active-duty troops throughout the year by sending monthly care packages with personal hygiene and comfort items, as well as clipping and sending coupons to military families to use at on-base stores overseas. The Military Support Program also assists military families with immediate needs, like food and utilities. Ms. Gaide and her volunteers also help returning troops with VA benefits, wheelchairs, and durable medical equipment needs or with readjustment to civilian life.
In addition to the Lee Health Military Support Program, Ms. Gaide also helped launch the Veteran Visitation Program at Cape Coral Hospital in 2019, which joins the efforts of Lee Health, the American Red Cross, the United Way’s MISSION UNITED™ and Home Base Veteran Family Care. Through this Program, volunteers visit veterans admitted to the hospital and provide information about available programs and resources, as well as comforting words and support. The visitation program at Cape Coral Hospital was the first in the nation at a civilian hospital. Ms. Gaide reports that the Veteran Visitation Program volunteers meet, spend time with and assist 10-15 veterans every month.
Lee Health proudly supports the Military Support Program as a program of Community Affairs, and assistance to our local service members and their families is funded solely by the generosity of our community through annual fundraisers and donations. The Annual Thanksgiving HoneyBaked® Ham Sale (hams, roasted turkey breasts, Cajun turkeys, BBQ ribs and desserts) is set for Monday, Nov. 20, between 7-11 a.m. at Gulf Coast Medical Center and 1-5 p.m. at HealthPark Medical Center. The sale continues on Tuesday, Nov. 21, from 7-11 a.m. at Lee Memorial Hospital and 1-5 p.m. at Cape Coral Hospital. Funds raised from this sale support the monthly care package fund.
The Military Support Program and the Veteran Visitation Program are the result of Ms. Gaide’s passion and tenacity. It is the significant support from the 15 volunteers who help throughout the year at the Military Support Closet and our community’s generosity and patriotism that have helped make both programs successful.