Miami Valley Hospital's closet of cold weather items first began in the locker of Cindy Feltner, RN, after noticing patients who lacked warm clothes, the Dayton Daily News reported Jan. 11.
In 2006, Ms. Feltner began stocking her locker with thermal underwear, socks, gloves and hats, and her co-workers brought more supplies. A year later, they were running out of room, so the Dayton, Ohio-based hospital's emergency department secured a closet space.
One closet turned into three, and Miami Valley formally named the program "Cindy's Closet."
Donations now come from employees and community members, and items have expanded from cold weather clothing to include diapers, toiletries and undergarments.
Some of the closet's recipients include trauma patients who arrive with damaged clothing, and others are people who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault or crime.
"We also have clothing for families who have been involved in a fire, and many times, arrive in the ER with just a gown or night clothing," Elizabeth Denlinger, BSN, the hospital's emergency nursing director, told the outlet.