J U l y 2 0 1 6 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 9
E
ver wonder what to do with the mounds of blue wrap left
over at the end of a week's worth of surgery? We partnered
with the sewing club at a nearby high school to transform
leftover wrap into drawstring bags, tarps, bedrolls and ponchos that
we then distribute to homeless in the community. Our surgical team
gathers a portion of the blue wrap set aside for recycling, checks to
make sure it's not contaminated and removes leftover tape. I then
drive it over to the high school, visit with the students and pick up
any items they've completed. The homeless truly appreciate receiv-
ing the water-resistant articles, and the high school sewing team,
which does an amazing job, feels great about helping out the less
fortunate. We feel good, too, knowing that our health network is
repurposing with a purpose.
Katie Velekei
lehigh Valley Health Network
Allentown, Pa.
katie.velekei@lvhn.org
Turn Blue Wrap Into Bags, Bedrolls for the Homeless
• LOCAL HEROES The sewing club at Dieruff High School in Allentown, Pa., with Brett Feldman, PA-C (back row, left), director of Lehigh Valley Health Network's Street Medicine program.
Lehigh
Valley
Health
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