Bally’s Twin River Donation Aids Kent Hospital Relief

WARWICK, RI — A $5,000 Bally’s Twin River donation Monday will help Kent Hospital continue its work with international organizations to alleviate the post-earthquake humanitarian crisis in Turkey and Syria.

Recent earthquakes have left more than 46,000 people dead, and tens of thousands injured, amid crumbling infrastructure, according to Associated Press reports. The earthquakes have left many without critical food, water, and medical supplies.

Kent Hospital’s Drs. Jinen Thakkar, Laura Forman, Hadeel Zainah, and Mery Deeb, are leading Kent Hospital’s efforts to collaborate with colleagues across the state and the nation to leverage critical resources purchased by area hospitals and through generous support such as the Bally’s Twin River donation.

“Kent Hospital is working with the Patriarchate Relief Authority Taskforce of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (GOPA), in the Patriarchal Holy Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand. Once we collect desperately needed supplies, the humanitarian aid will be flown via cargo jet to Beirut airport, after which it will be delivered to Archimandrite Meletius Shattahi, who is director of the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development (DERD) in Syria. To those affected by the earthquakes, these supplies can be lifesaving. I want to make sure we do everything we can to help our brothers and sisters overseas who are suffering,” said Thakkar, an internist at Kent Hospital.

Forman has participated in global disaster relief efforts before, including in Central America, Bosnia, Croatia, and Madagascar.

“I am glad to know that so many from Rhode Island are jumping in to help, especially here at Kent Hospital. I know what it’s like to work with little to no supplies in devastating conditions, so I’m aware how appreciative the people of Syria and Turkey will be to receive any supplies we’re able to provide,” said Forman, an emergency medicine doctor at Kent Hospital.

 The area is also in dire need of baby formula for term and preterm neonates, diapers, sheets, tents, sanitary products, canned food, and air mattresses.

For more information about how you can make a donation of in-kind supplies, please contact Kate Wishart, Major Gifts Officer, Kent Hospital, at (401) 737-7010 (x31134) or [email protected] to arrange a drop-off. Or conveniently donate online by visiting  https://foundation.kentri.org/donate-earthquake-crisis.