PROVIDING WARMTH From left, Lynn Pounds, RN, clinical manager, Orthopaedic South Surgical Center; Marjorie Lacy, director of the Henry County Haven House; Andrea Marsh, CASC, administrator, Orthopaedic South Surgical Center; Gary W. Stewart, MD, Resurgens Orthopaedics; and volunteers Sean Marsh and Brendan Hill stand alongside the mountain of protective outerwear raised by the group.
Photo by Nita Kirkland, MA

Hundreds of domestic violence victims — women and children — will be protected from the elements this winter, as well as from their abusers, thanks to a joint effort spearheaded by Orthopaedic South Surgical Center, in Morrow, Ga.

Teaming with Resurgens Orthopaedics and its 21 offices in the metro Atlanta area, Orthopaedic South collected 330 coats, jackets, blankets, hats, scarves and infant warmers for the Henry County Haven House, one of a family of domestic violence shelters providing comfort and safety to victims in 4 Georgia counties.

Though unseasonably warm temperatures blanketed the East Coast in December, the bitter bite of winter has arrived, and "the coats, sweaters and blankets were badly needed by the women and children we serve," says Marjorie Lacy, the shelter's director. "The warm items we picked up were just in time for the chilly weather that just moved in."

This was the surgery center's 8th and most successful drive, says Orthopaedic South administrator Andrea Marsh, CASC, noting that Gary W. Stewart, MD, of Resurgens, gave the drive an important boost: "Dr. Stewart did a radio interview this year, and their marketing director really got the word out to the local newspapers and other news outlets."

Reflecting on the many Orthopaedic South employees who also contributed, Ms. Marsh says she was humbled: "I feel truly blessed to be working with such compassionate people. And I feel blessed to help those in need. After all, at some point everybody needs some kind of help."

Jim Burger