The last time North Kansas City Hospital experienced the amount of snowfall it received over the weekend of January 4 and 5, John F. Kennedy was president.
The dangerous weather conditions left more than 700 NKCH staff seeking sleeping arrangements to keep the hospital and emergency room open during the blizzard. Harrah's Kansas City opened its doors to 31 NKCH team members with a place to rest.
“We are part of a city that comes together and does whatever it takes to get through critical times,” said Julie Sola, Harrah’s Kansas City General Manager. “We are surrounded by people that care with everything they have.”
Harrah’s Front Desk Clerk Emily Scott explained that their staff was pleased to be able to provide the staff at NKCH with shelter during the storm. “They work so hard and put in incredibly long hours to care for our city,” Scott said.
The feeling of gratitude was mutual between organizations.
“We are grateful for our neighbors at Harrah’s Kansas City for their generous support during this time of need,” said NKCH Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kerri Jenkins.
Staff appreciated the chance to recharge at Harrah’s. Staying off hospital grounds provided a place where staff could restore their energy and connect with other Harrah’s team members who were in a similar situation. A patient reported over the snow-filled weekend that the staff was friendly and all smiles, which reflects Harrah’s commitment to accommodating our team.
“I'd love to thank the staff for making us feel welcome and taking care of us,” said Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Nurse Tiffany Kline, RN. “We would not have been as rested, fed and happy if not for them.”
Warm Meals and Conversations
In addition to providing rooms, NKCH guests also fueled up with a breakfast buffet and could order lunch and dinner.
Intensive Care Unit Nurse Christina Thomas, RN and her coworker noted that they were blown away by the incredible kindness of the Harrah’s staff and felt like they bonded over each interaction.
“We were all bunkered there together, almost like we were on our own island, still working and making the best out of our situations,” Thomas said.
While frequently running into the same people and sharing stories from the weekend, real connections were made.
“The Harrah’s staff and the group of us from NKCH really came together,” Respiratory Therapy Supervisor Laura Hogan said. “It was a stressful and hard situation, but we kept each other’s spirits up and acted as a team.”
Despite the harsh weather outside, the atmosphere indoors was filled with warmth, laughter and gratitude. Moments like these are a powerful reminder that leaning on one another during challenging times can rejuvenate our spirits.
