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Esther Petrie is known as Providence's
"medical angel" for she personally packs
tons of donated medical supplies and
sends them to countries in need.
Although she started this humanitarian
project with the former Soviet Union
nearly 10 years ago, she now packs
these medical supplies (i.e. crutches,
braces, splints, wheelchairs, etc.) and
ships them to many other countries in
need as well. In her holiday note this
year she wrote that in 2003 she was able
to send 9,508 lbs.to Mexico, Peru,
Gambia, China, Mongolia, Belize,
Russia, Greece, Nepal, Vietnam, Costa
Rica, Namibia, Bulgaria, Cambodia,
Thailand, Malawi, Dominican Republic,
India, and Egypt.
As per our partnership agreement,
signed June 1, 1999, Esther Petrie is
called to Chugiak High School as a
guest speaker on a request basis. Even
as a graveyard shift worker in the emergency
room with visits possible only on
her days off, she is generous and giving
of her own time. Additionally she speaks
to all of the Russian classes each year
and collects their donations for her
humanitarian projects, which includes
not only collecting the donated medical
supplies and old suitcases and duffle
bags for packing the supplies, but also
soliciting individuals traveling to Seattle
and Los Angeles for delivery abroad
through Northwest Medical Team and
Project Vietnam. Donated medical supplies
are also packed by Esther and sent
with the Chugiak High School Russian
exchange students every other year as
part of an ongoing service project with
the Russian classes and Russian Club.
Additionally, Esther has been able to
connect with another Chugiak High
School business partner, Sears, to establish
an agreement that all damaged suitcases
received by them will be donated
to her for these projects. In a similar
arrangement Alaska Airline has come to
donate their unclaimed or no longer
wanted, damaged luggage to her for
transporting these medical supplies. |
Esther is a great example of how one
person can really make an incredible difference
and we are happy to continue
our work with her.
Kathleen Barrows, Providence's
Coordinator for Community Partnerships,
has also made a positive connection with
CHS. As a career speaker Kathleen has
shared valuable, realistic job information
with our students on the allied health
career field. Our Family and Consumer
Science teacher, Kathleen Vik, has submitted
a letter detailing Providence's
support with her students. As business
partners Providence Health Systems has
showed an exceptional commitment to
their partnership with CHS. Through the coordination
and help of Kathleen Barrows over 100 students had
an
opportunity to learn job skills that included
filling out job applications, resume
writing, and interviewing techniques. Two
of the four Human Resources Recruiters
came to Eagle River and spent an entire
day working with students. Job shadowing
experiences and mentoring were
facilitated by Kathleen Barrows and
Providence has also supported the
Career Technology Student Organization
and the FCCLA at CHS. This business
partner has connected learning opportunities
for students and provided professional
enhancement for students and
staff members.
| Discussions
were held in May of 1999 between Esther Petrie,
Emergency Room Staff Nurse at Providence
Hospital, and Valerie Ekberg-Brown, Russian
teacher at Chugiak High School, to discuss
a School Business Partnership. The focus
of the discussion was to enhance the program/service
project, " To Russia with Love," ongoing
since 1989. |
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