The Meritus and Goodwill Partnership
Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) and Meritus Health have secured grants to support multiple community initiatives in downtown Hagerstown, Maryland. These initiatives aim to address critical needs and enhance the local community’s overall well-being.
In partnership with Meritus Health, HGI has been awarded a $435,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s SEED fund. This grant will facilitate the establishment of a full-service grocery store within Hagerstown’s core, an area designated as a “food desert” by the USDA. The grocery store will operate within HGI’s downtown facility, providing the Hagerstown community with fresh food and household essentials.
Another significant development is the Hagerstown Health Hub, a project funded by a $925,000 two-year grant from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission’s “Pathways to Health Equity” program. This initiative will establish a primary care office at HGI’s downtown location, with Meritus Medical Center providing a full-time nurse practitioner and HGI offering mental health case management. Patients will receive care irrespective of their insurance status, ensuring equitable access to healthcare services. The Health Hub will also be co-located with the full-service grocery store, enhancing access to fresh food and healthcare.
Furthermore, a collaborative effort involving Meritus Health, Horizon Goodwill Industries, and Maryland Physicians Care has created the “Pathway to Healthcare” program. This innovative pilot program will help low and moderate-income individuals secure living wage positions in various divisions at Meritus Health, thereby improving their economic stability and access to healthcare resources.
In a display of community support, Meritus Medical Center has also donated floor cleaning equipment to HGI’s Business Services division, enabling their cleaning crews to enhance efficiency and serve various contracts more effectively.
Finally, Meritus Health was recognized as the “Employer of the Year” at Horizon Goodwill Industries’ 68th Annual Power of Work Awards, reflecting their commitment to removing barriers to social mobility for individuals in the four-state territory.
These grants and initiatives demonstrate Horizon Goodwill Industries’ and Meritus Health’s commitment to improving the quality of life and access to essential services in downtown Hagerstown.
Horizon Goodwill & Meritus Health Obtain Grant for Downtown Hagerstown Grocery Initiative
In partnership with Meritus Health, Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) proudly announces that $435,000 in funding has been awarded by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) SEED fund.
“We are constantly looking for opportunities to partner with other organizations and our community to address the needs of our neighbors,” explained Josh Repac, Vice President of Revenue Cycle and Clinical Support Services Meritus Health.
Submitted by Meritus Health on behalf of HGI, the Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Fund will aid in the creation of a full-service grocery store in the Hagerstown Core. Horizon Goodwill Industries will operate this store at their downtown facility on Prospect Street. The venture will provide fresh food and household staples to the entire downtown area of Hagerstown, which the USDA has defined as a “food desert.” Read more
Horizon Goodwill & Meritus Health Obtain Grant for Downtown Hagerstown ‘Health Hub’
Horizon Goodwill Industries, in partnership with Meritus Medical Center, is among nine grantees selected to receive funds from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission’s “Pathways to Health Equity” program.
The $925,000 two-year grant allows for opening a primary care office at Horizon Goodwill Industries’ downtown Hagerstown location at 200 N. Prospect Street. Meritus Medical Center will provide a full-time nurse practitioner to staff the site, and Horizon Goodwill will provide mental health case management staff. Patients will not be turned away based on insurance status; they will be seen and then connected to a healthcare navigator from AHEC West to assist them in becoming insured. This project will be known as the Hagerstown Health HUB and will be co-located with the full-service grocery store HGI is opening. Read more
Pathways to Healthcare Careers
A team consisting of members representing Meritus Health, Horizon Goodwill Industries, and Maryland Physicians Care have crafted an innovative pilot program, Pathway to Healthcare, to path low/moderate income candidates directly into living wage positions in one of five identified divisions at Meritus. “We are honored to play a connecting role in this program to help support county residents and businesses,” said David Shuster, Ed.D., president and CEO of Horizon Goodwill Industries. “Through this program, we can directly improve the participants’ lives and strengthen the health system that serves the community. We see this as a valuable initiative and are thrilled to be the lead sponsor,” said Jason Rottman, CEO of Maryland Physicians Care.
The concept is simple: Employment is offered in one of the numerous areas at Meritus Health. Maryland Physicians Care provides the administrative staff for program design and deployment. Horizon Goodwill Industries provides training and development through the ‘Get Onboard!’ soft skills academy. Additionally, Maryland Physicians Care will cover program costs, including the candidates’ pre-employment training expenses, uniforms, and a potential bonus upon completion of the probationary period. “In fulfillment of our mission, Maryland Physicians Care is looking at factors beyond clinical care that affect our member’s health outcomes, and improving income stability is foundational to ensuring individuals have the resources and means to live healthy lives,” said Lorena de Leon, D.P.A., Sr. Director of Population Health, Maryland Physicians Care. Read more
Donation of Equipment to Horizon Goodwill Industries
Meritus Medical Center recently donated various floor cleaning equipment to Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) Business Services division. HGI is very grateful for the donation, which will enable the various cleaning crews to be more efficient and perform more work across many of our contracts.
The Business Services division of HGI has provided creative business solutions for private industry and local, state, and federal governments for more than 65 years. The Commercial Cleaning Solutions group employs over 120 people, cleaning over 1.9 million square feet of contracted building space daily. Our contracts include Federal, State, and private sector locations, some requiring security clearances. HGI is responsible for cleaning over 100 buildings at Fort Detrick, MD, including the base hospital, Child Development Center, Youth/Teen Center, and many offices. Read more
Meritus Health Awarded Employer of the Year
On May 3, 2023, Meritus Health was named “Employer of the Year” at Horizon Goodwill Industries’ (HGI) 68th Annual Power of Work Awards. The event is scheduled annually to coincide with National Goodwill Week.
The Employer of the Year Award recognizes an employer who has demonstrated outstanding support for assisting individuals by hiring program graduates or otherwise contributing to greater outplacement of program participants through their partnering with Horizon Goodwill Industries.
Meritus Health was selected because of its community support and work connecting people with sustainable employment opportunities. A team consisting of members representing Meritus Health, HGI, and Maryland Physicians Care (MPC) developed an innovative pilot program called “Pathways to Healthcare Careers,” which places low/moderate income candidates directly into living wage positions in one of five identified divisions at Meritus with support from HGI and MPC. Read more
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