It started with First State Community Bank’s “Community Appreciation Day,” which featured a chili cook-off. Guests were invited to sample the recipes and vote for their favorite, with the prize money going directly to the winners’ charity of choice.
Paige Gallagher, Parkland Health Center Foundation board member, entered her family’s secret recipe for white chicken chili and won 2nd place in the cookoff. The $500 she received will go directly to her named charity -- the Foundation and its fundraising campaign to enhance the hospital’s labor and delivery department.
“I chose to donate to the Parkland Health Center Foundation because of the incredible service they provide to the Farmington community,” said Paige. “The Foundation truly has a passion to assist Parkland in providing the best health care possible to the community, which I am so humbled to be a part of.”
“The chili cook-off was so much fun for a good cause,” said Carla Crocker, Foundation coordinator. “The bank lobby was packed with taste testers and it was a great opportunity to talk about the Foundation and our campaign to raise funds for the labor and delivery department.”
Crocker added her thanks to Paige for choosing to represent the Foundation at this event, and to First State Community Bank for being such a great community partner.
The PHC Foundation has made it a fundraising priority to assist the hospital in renovating, updating and adding important medical equipment to the labor and delivery department, committing $245,000 to the project.
Since 2015, Parkland Health Center has had the only labor and delivery department in St. Francois County, delivering 614 babies in 2018. The department currently has five fully-equipped birthing rooms, four semi-private rooms and six private rooms.
For more information about the Foundation, contact Carla Crocker, coordinator, at 573.760.8523 or [email protected].