Health System in Savannah, Ga. Recognized for Community Service Commitment with Foster G. McGaw Prize

After back surgery and an extended stay in the hospital, Savannah, Ga. resident Denet Whitfield found herself out of a job and without a source of income. She couldn't even afford groceries and feared losing her apartment. After reaching out to several government agencies for help, she was eventually referred to St. Joseph's/Candler Health System's St. Mary's Community Center and Health Center, a community outreach initiative dedicated to helping people in the poorest neighborhoods in Chatham County, Ga. improve their quality of life.

"When someone answered on the other end of the line, I felt hope immediately," Whitfield recalls. "Now every time I walk into the building I feel safe."

St. Mary's helped Whitfield get stabilized and assisted her in setting up and providing transportation to and from several medical appointments at the Health Center. She received a new pair of glasses at the center's eye clinic, and attends healthy cooking classes as well as a dance class at the Community Center.

Continue reading about St. Joseph's/Candler Health System's dedication to community service.