Caring Circle’s Veteran Support Services received the board’s approval for $76,666.67 toward the salary, benefits, and ongoing training of the Veteran Support Services Coordinator/Veteran Support Social Worker for one year. Veterans will benefit by receiving more awareness and direct access to community resources through the coordinator.

The board also approved spending $45,000 from the COVID-19 Response Fund to purchase a UV light for Pine Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. This equipment is essential to saving lives and keeping the facility clean during this pandemic.

Jerry French, Spectrum Health Lakeland board member, Spectrum Health Lakeland Foundation board member, and trustee of The Wood Foundation, committed $50,000 to convalescent plasma therapy research. This promising therapy has benefited COVID-19 patients including Lowell Hamel, MD, COO. The research will be conducted at Lakeland and Spectrum Health and is part of a nationwide study.