Parkland Health Center hosts an annual employee campaign supporting the United Way, with funds raised staying within St. Francois County to benefit local programs. Schnabel said employee campaigns are held at all BJC HealthCare facilities, and the money raised stays in each community. BJC is the more prominent corporate umbrella under which Parkland Health Center and many other medical entities operate.
The campaign is an employee-driven initiative led by Rebecca Counts, with support from Kathy Reed and an employee engagement team. Creative fundraising efforts occur year-round, including:
- Raffle baskets: Departments design themed baskets that are raffled off, ranging from Christmas and Thanksgiving motifs to “relax-at-home” themes. Employees eagerly participate by purchasing tickets to win these curated baskets.
- Event ticket raffles: Parkland also raffles items such as tickets to local events, St. Louis Blues hockey games, and St. Louis Cardinals baseball games.
- Pop-up lobby sales: The hospital lobby transforms into a community market hub, hosting book sales, nut-and-candy fundraisers, and other items with proceeds directed toward the campaign.
- Payroll deduction programs: Employees can contribute via automatic payroll deductions, providing steady support throughout the year.
These and similar efforts underscore Parkland Health Center’s belief that employees are at the heart of giving, fostering a workplace culture dedicated to making a difference.
“We try to share with our team members the impact the United Way has in our community,” Schnabel said. “It’s about recognizing the social factors that affect health and the crucial role organizations like the United Way play in addressing them.”
The social side of health: more than just healthcare
According to Schnabel, current research shows that only 20% of a person’s health outcomes are influenced by medical care; socioeconomic factors, physical environment, and personal health behaviors determine 80%. This realization has driven Parkland Health Center to expand its role beyond the confines of traditional healthcare.
“We’re proud of the care we provide, but we also recognize that factors like housing, income, and access to resources significantly impact our patients’ health,” she said.
This year, Parkland Health Center also donated funds from selling property that was once part of the Mineral Area Medical Center campus on Wallace Road in Farmington. The funds, originating from selling land to the city for low-income housing, were redirected to the East Missouri Action Agency (EMAA) to help support housing initiatives and utility assistance programs.
She said that sometimes when patients are discharged from the hospital, they need more than medical care. Oftentimes, those people need air conditioning, housing, or basic utilities to ensure they can recover safely. EMAA helps provide those resources. This year, Parkland Health Center received unexpected funds that hadn’t been budgeted.
“Back when Parkland purchased Mineral Area Medical Center and had to decide how we would move forward with that organization, part of the property was next to the Senior Center. At that time, that parcel of property was donated to the City of Farmington with stipulations that if the city sold that during a specific time, PHC would get a percent back from the sales proceeds. So, the city sold that property for a housing project this year, and PHC received a portion of the sales proceeds.
“What we- our board and team- decided is this is money that we didn’t plan on having as Parkland. It was really about housing. We asked how we could use these funds to continue supporting our community’s social and economic needs. We decided that the best way for us to use that money was to give it to EMAA to help with some of the programs that they do that our patients are impacted by.”
The donation aligns with PHC’s mission to address the root causes of health disparities. The agency’s programs—utility assistance, housing support, and education—directly impact the community’s well-being, especially economically vulnerable populations or the chronically unhoused.
One immediate effect of the sale was the groundbreaking, leading to the construction project to develop 42 low-income housing units. These homes will provide safe and affordable accommodations for families in need. At least ten of the units have been exclusively reserved for the unhoused; EMAA plans to enroll those residents in enrichment programs to assist them in transforming their situations into something sustainable and positive.
“Housing is critical–at a crisis level,” Schnabel noted. “We sometimes see individuals seeking warmth, food, or shelter at the hospital—not because they need medical care, but because other resources are unavailable. These units will fill a significant gap in the community.”
Looking ahead
Parkland Health Center continues to collaborate with local partners to improve the lives of St. Francois County residents. Their efforts provide essential healthcare and address the broader social challenges that affect health outcomes.
As Schnabel aptly put it, “We focus on health, but we understand the importance of supporting the social side of it. When we care for the whole person, the entire community benefits.”