Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Givonni Senna, 5, and Aria Urban, 3, remove butterflies in the patient's belly from the game "Operation" as Plains Regional Medical Center staff member Krystal Gonzales discusses with the kids the anxieties about seeing the doctor.
Kids ranging in age from three to 10 raced around the tents at the Java Loft parking lot in Clovis, participating in all the activities the Plains Regional Medical Center's "Back-to-School Bash" had to offer on Wednesday afternoon. While enjoying the family-friendly entertainment, prizes and games, parents were able to ask PRMC staff questions about the kinds of services the medical center provides.
Chief Nurse Executive at PRMC Wendi Hulett said that families were encouraged to bring school supplies such as pencils and notebooks that the medical center would then donate to local elementary schools. She said this event was designed to bring the medical center and the community closer together.
"As a new leader coming into this community and into this role, I think I realized what an amazing hospital we have in the community. And I think a part of what we wanted to do was to help people see what an amazing service they have right here at home," Hulett said.
Director of Nurses at PRMC, Kimberly Barnes said that there were 20 volunteers for the event, all of whom were PRMC staff from various departments. She said the medical center came together to gather the games, prizes and get a vendor out for the event.
"We just want to get out into the community more. We wanted to get out and introduce ourselves, talk to people about what we can offer, our services," Barnes said.
Barnes said that Java Loft was giving out discounts to their refreshments for attendees of the event and that guests could enjoy some music provided by radio station BIG 101.5.
Children laughed as they practiced their surgical skills with a pair of tweezers when playing the classic game "Operation." Krystal Gonzales, a PRMC surgical services staff member, said that each department brought several different games that introduce kids and their families about some of the services they provide.
"Sometimes surgery can be scary, especially for children. We hope that bringing games like this one and answering any questions can help make those anxieties go away," said another staff member, Joey Hodges.
When the children successfully removed a piece from the board without being alerted by the glowing red nose, they were rewarded with a nice refreshing icy pop. Frozen treats were just one of the many prizes which the families could earn. By participating in several activities kids had a chance to win prizes that ranged from candy to even fishing out their own pet goldfish.
Other activities at the daylong event were cornhole, Popsicle walk, and fish fling. In which participants threw squishy balls into silver buckets for a chance to win a goldfish.
Families could also sign up for giveaway prizes such as a bicycle and a backpack packed full of various school supplies.
Barnes said that as the event came to a close, the medical center was able to receive 300 items of various school supplies. She said that all the items in which the families brought will be donated to local elementary schools, so that students can be prepared for the school year, which started last week in many eastern New Mexico districts.
