In honor of National Shoe the World Day, community members are invited to drop off donations at Tri-City Medical Center, now through March 13

Oceanside CA— In conjunction with National Shoe the World Day on March 15, Tri-City Hospital Foundation is hosting a Shoes, Socks and Sweats Drive and asks local businesses and residents to donate new or unused shoes, socks, sweat pants and sweatshirts to ensure all patients are safely discharged with foot protection and clothing. Donations are being accepted now through March 13th in donation bins located in the main lobbies of Tri-City Medical Center at 4002 Vista Way, Oceanside; the Tri-City Hospital Foundation office, located on the first floor of the Tri-City Medical Center; and at Tri-City Wellness Center at 6250 El Camino Real, Carlsbad.
The annual drive was inspired by the actions of Tri-City Medical Center nurse Imelda Browning who gave a patient the shoes off her own feet to ensure the patient could be safely discharged from the hospital. Tri-City Hospital Foundation plans to continue to hold this drive annually to ensure the safety of all discharged patients.
“This drive has become one we look forward to every year because it provides a solution for the simple yet critical necessity that anyone can contribute to,” said Jennifer Paroly, president of Tri-City Hospital Foundation. “Every donation makes a direct and positive difference in the lives of patients in need in our local community.”
Tri-City Medical Center holds itself responsible for every patient’s safety and will not release patients without proper foot protection or clothing. Patients often come to the hospital in their pajamas or without proper footwear and frequently have no family member to bring them a change of clothes or a pair of shoes when it is time for them to leave the hospital. The collection drive builds an inventory of new shoes, socks and sweats that are distributed to patients in need throughout the year. The Tri-City Hospital Foundation Socks, Shoes and Sweats Drive is sponsored by Sfeir Architects.
Volunteers will be on-hand on March 13th to accept drive-up donations from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Cash donations are also welcome online at tricityhospitalfoundation.org/what_you_can_do/donate.html.

How to Participate:

• Step One: Buy shoes, socks and/or sweats from a budget department store or big-box retailers like Target or Walmart.
• Step Two: Visit the Tri-City Medical Center or Tri-City Wellness center and drop items off in designated bins OR drive up to Tri-City Medical Center on Friday, March 13 and volunteers will collect your items.

About Tri-City Hospital Foundation

Tri-City Hospital Foundation is celebrating more than 50 years as a link between the community and the hospital. Since its inception, a generous community of donors has provided millions of dollars in grants to Tri-City Medical Center. Many of the hospital’s most mission-critical facilities and most sophisticated equipment have been supported in whole or in part by Foundation
Initiatives and community donors. Recently, the Foundation funded the GE Revolution CT Scanner, which is the highest resolution scanner today, making Tri-City Medical Center the first hospital in the state to have this state-of-the-art system in use. For more information and to learn how you can make a difference, visit www.tricityhospitalfoundation.org.

About Tri-City Medical Center

Tri-City Medical Center has served its community for almost 60 years and is a full service, acute-care hospital in Oceanside, CA with over 500 physicians practicing in 60 specialties. Tri-City
Medical Center is licensed for 388 licensed beds and maintains 150 to 200 daily. Its Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission recognizes its commitment to safe and effective patient care for the residents of the community it serves. It operates the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in North County as well as the Orthopedic & Spine Institute, a Cardiovascular Health Institute and the Tri-City Wellness & Fitness Center in Carlsbad, CA. It also specializes in robotic surgery, cancer, women’s health, and emergency care. For more information about Tri-City Medical Center and Tri-City Healthcare District, please visit www.tricitymed.org.