Orlando Health team members celebrate 407 Day by giving back

Nearly 700 team members from Orlando Health spent time doing in their community for 407 Day.

The hospital network celebrated Monday, April 7, by hosting various on-site and off-site volunteer projects to benefit different community partners. 

In West Orange, team members at Orlando Health — Health Central Hospital and Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital put together hygiene kits and snack packs for the local organization Eight Waves. They will benefit kids living in under-resourced communities. 

Team members at Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital assembled school supply kits to benefit A Gift for Teaching, a nonprofit that provides resources to teachers in Orange and Osceola counties. 

 “I’ve seen how the smallest acts of kindness can create the biggest ripple effects especially for children who are navigating incredibly hard circumstances,” Eight Waves Executive Director Sara Meyer said. “Orlando Health didn’t just give 900 hygiene kits and 1,000 snack bags, they gave kids a reason to feel seen, cared for and worthy. For a child living in poverty, something as simple as having their own toothbrush or a snack after school can be life-changing. This partnership is more than generosity; it’s a lifeline. And we are so grateful to walk alongside Orlando Health in creating a brighter, more stable future for children in West Orange County.”

Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital President Joe Khayat, who also serves as a board member for Eight Waves, said he was honored to be able to support the organization.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Eight Waves on this day of giving back to the community, helping to make hygiene kits and snack packs for under-resourced children in the communities we serve,” he said. “It’s been really rewarding to see how eager our team members are to take part in the 407 Day events, an overall great day for everybody involved.”