Earlier this year, Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Relief, an Islamic nonprofit organization, reached out to Laura Lombardo of Community Relations to ask if Penn Medicine could help them furnish some of the rooms in their new Social Health and Medical Services (SHAMS) clinic in Northeast Philadelphia. She knew just the person who could help: Jane McKinney, director of Real Estate Operations.
McKinney was happy to assist. After several calls with the SHAMS Clinic leadership, they determined what items were critical to their opening, including exam tables, chairs, and small tables that could be combined to make a conference table. McKinney turned to two Penn Medicine vendors to help with the request: Healthcare Building Solutions, which helps organize complex moves, such as a clinic or OR, and Cofco, a furniture vendor. Both were able to provide furniture, as well as medical equipment.
“Cofco went to Center Square – and then Penn Presbyterian – to pick up what we were donating and delivered everthing to the clinic,” McKinney said.
“I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Penn Medicine for their donation of the furniture. We wanted our exam rooms to have the feel of a normal doctors office, and that would not have been possible without their donation,” said Maaz Baqai, a volunteer with ICNA Relief’s SHAMS Clinic.
“Space is a precious commodity around here so it’s great when I can find a department or clinic that needs our excess office furniture or clinic furniture,” she said. “It’s always better to donate to a great cause.”