Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelli-Ann McKenzie.
Shelli-Ann, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
After earning my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nursing from Molloy College in New York, I spent years working on the frontline as a registered nurse and clinical nurse leader. As my career evolved, I served as an informatics nurse specialist, healthcare IT consultant, and project manager. When COVID-19 struck, it was obvious to me when I had multiple family deaths due to COVID-19, that I should use my healthcare knowledge and business acumen to help relieve the stress in my community. This urged me to start the Frontline CAre and REcovery Program focused on driving personal protective equipment (PPE) and meals to frontline healthcare workers and first responders. We soon formalized as the nonprofit organization known today as, Help for Healthcare Professionals, Inc.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No. Our biggest struggle is resources and finding the right people. We donate meals, masks, and gowns, so finding volunteers to sew the masks is something at the top of our list. We still need volunteers to help with administrative tasks, marketing, content development, outreach, and distribution. For those who may not be seamstresses, we are looking for people to even cut the fabric. We have our executive board in place and a handful of active volunteers.
If you are willing to volunteer or donate, we have work for you to do! We are accepting monetary donations as well as fabric donations, sewing supplies, personal care and household items.
Help for Healthcare Professionals – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Help for Healthcare Professionals or HHCP, Inc. is a nurse-owned non-profit organization dedicated to “supporting those who vowed to care for us”. Our executive leadership team has more than six decades of direct patient care experiences and is extremely diversified. This gives us access to the insights we will need to serve our frontline now and in the future.
To date, we have delivered over 1,500 meals, more than 8,000 PPE, and cleaning supplies— impacting almost 10,000 lives across ten counties in North Georgia! There is still more work to do as once again, the number of COVID-19 cases are on the rise and frontliners are facing staffing and PPE shortages.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is accomplishing a desired goal. The heart of everything we aim to do at HHCP stems from my foundation in nursing – having compassion for those in need and finding innovative solutions to current problems.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://helpforhealthcareprofessionals.org/
- Phone: 678-948-5173
- Email: info@hhcpinc.org
- Instagram: @hhcpinc2
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hhcpinc2/?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDoyNDI1ODM4NzY4MjM2NDhfMjQyNjk4NDkzNDc4ODUz
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/hhcpinc2
Image Credit:
Photo Image Credit: Albert Calvin Photography
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