Medical Center launches Care Cart Program to uplift staff and patients

Date: 11/09/2021

Bangor, Maine (November 9, 2021) – To brighten the days of patients, visitors, and staff, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center recently launched the Care Cart Program.
The Care Cart is filled with snacks and treats for staff to enjoy, as well as a variety of comfort items and activities to enrich the experience for patients and visitors during their hospital stay. It is completely volunteer-driven and rounds through the hospital on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Hospital staff may also volunteer their time to round with the Cart on other days.
To align with infection prevention standards, the Cart does not enter patient rooms. Instead, patients and visitors can choose items from a menu, which the rounding volunteer then delivers to them. Patients are also offered a feedback card to suggest items to customize the Cart.
Anyone who would like to help support the program can do so by donating commonly requested items to stock the Care Cart. The most popular items requested by patients and visitors are:

Variety packs of colored pencils, colored markers, and crayons
Art paper
Activity books
Card games
Stress balls
Eye masks
Over-the-ear headphones

New, unused donations can be shipped directly to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, ATTN: Volunteer Services, 489 State St, Bangor, ME 04401. Community Members may also help support the Care Cart by applying to become a volunteer. For more information, visit our volunteer page online.

Note: Media wishing to speak with a member of Volunteer Services or Patient Experience are welcome to contact Marketing and Communications at 207.973.9530 or at emmcmediarequest@northernlight.org.