Community Outreach

Santa's Helpers

Christmas is that special time of year that is filled with twinkling lights, get-togethers with family and presents under the tree. For all too many families, however, Christmas is a sad reminder that there is not enough money to pay the bills, let alone buy presents.

Since 2006 Salina Regional Health Center employees have teamed up with Heartland Early Education to help families in need by providing Christmas presents for less-fortunate families – helping to make sure there were Christmas presents under the tree and special meals on the table. So many children have gifts under the tree, thanks to the generosity of SRHC employees.

Yvonne Davis, marketing secretary for Salina Regional Health Center coordinates the Santa's Helpers program for the health center. "It's a lot of work coordinating all the different departments with different families, but then when I see the hundreds of wrapped packages in one room ready for pickup it makes it all worthwhile."

Davis says that the Heartland Program coordinators are appreciative of Salina Regional employee's generosity. "Every year the Heartland consultants are amazed with how generous Salina Regional employees are."

United Way

Salina Regional Health Center employees contribute annually to the Salina Area United Way by making cash gifts and through payroll deduction. Salina Area United Way improves the lives of Salina residents, making Salina a better place to live. All donations stay in the community and have a direct and immediate impact through education programs, health and financial assistance along with programs designed to promote financial independence.

Health Talk

Salina Regional Health Center employees enjoy being out in the community and sharing their health expertise through Salina Regional Health Center's "Health Talk," a health education resource of the hospital. Salina Regional employees provide clubs or groups with a variety of interesting and informative talks on health care. Health Talk speakers are health care professionals – nurses, therapists, chaplains, nutritionists and executives – representing all areas of the health center.

Health Talk programs are provided at no charge as a community service of Salina Regional Health Center. Programs are usually 20-30 minutes long, and may include slides, videos or literature.

If you would like to arrange for someone to speak about healthcare topics or careers in healthcare, please call (785) 452-7882.

Project Salina

Project Salina helps five agencies in Salina keep food on their shelves so they can help those in Salina that need help putting food on their table. Salina Regional Health Center employees donate cash to Project Salina every May through special prize drawings and an employee-led awareness campaign.

Yvonne Davis, marketing secretary for the hospital and Project Salina Board Member, says that planning the food drive is one of her more fulfilling duties. "Not working in direct patient care, I don't get to touch people's lives the way doctors and nurses do. This is my way of making a difference in someone's life."

Yvonne says the hospital is successful in reaching its goal each year because of the wonderful generosity of the employees

Dream Night

Hospital employees help children with special healthcare needs get up close and personal with their favorite animal. The anticipation and excitement in the eyes of VIP guests and their families at Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure's annual Dream Night gives you a sense for the memories made at this event.

Staff and volunteers at Rolling Hills Wildlife Refuge understand the connection between children and animals. They get to witness firsthand how children's interactions with animals touch their lives, and see the calming, therapeutic effects brought on by spending time with animals.

Dream Night is an annual event replicated at many zoos around the world, which provides a special evening of entertainment and activity for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and physical disabilities. The Salina Regional Health Foundation also understands the benefit Dream Night offers to these children and sponsors the event through its Community Health Investment Program.

In addition, employees from Salina Regional Health Center volunteer every year to help direct guests throughout their adventure.

Smoky Hill River Festival

Salina Regional Health Center plays a big part in the Smoky Hill River Festival. As sponsors of the Baby Station, employees make sure wipes and diapers are ready for the youngest festivalgoers and their parents. Salina Regional Health Center also provides staff for the Children's Art Tent on Saturday during the festival, which has many different art projects just for kids.

Over 125 employees volunteer their time over the weekend to help make the event a success.

Smoky Hill River Run

Every year during the Smoky Hill River Festival, the Smoky Hill River Run is held on Saturday morning in Oakdale Park. The Festival Fitness 5 began in 1981 and the name changed to the Smoky Hill River Run in 2023 to better reflect its relationship with the Smoky Hill River Festival. The event includes a five-mile race, two-mile race, children’s races and a two-mile walk. There are vendors and activities before, during and after the race for everyone. Salina Regional Health Center provides over 200 volunteers to run the event every year.

Fe For A Cure

After the inaugural event in 2015, Salina Regional Health Center has teamed with the Tammy Walker Cancer Center and the Salina Regional Health Foundation to sponsor the “Fe for a Cure” each fall. This 5K Race/Walk is a fun way to support cancer awareness and raise funds for patients receiving treatment at the Tammy Walker Cancer Center. Thanks to the generosity of the events’ sponsors, 100% of the entry fee collected directly supports cancer patients at the Tammy Walker Cancer Center. The Fe for a Cure 5K Race/Walk is USATF-certified, and is one of only three certified races held in Salina, KS. Learn more at https://www.srhealthfoundation.com/events/

American Red Cross Blood Drives

The American Red Cross holds a blood drive every month at Salina Regional Health Center. This gives hospital employees a chance to donate blood regularly to do even more to help their patients. Every year, Salina Regional Health Center employees donate an average of 240 units of blood through these blood drives, making Salina Regional Health Center the top corporate account for American Red Cross in the north central Kansas region.