"Cherokee Nation Health Services Group Leader Melissa Gower
paints a wall at the tribe’s Sam Hider Health Center in Jay. Several
Cherokee Nation leaders, employees and citizens volunteered
to work on
painting and landscaping projects
at the facility."|
|
JAY, OK — Several Cherokee Nation leaders, employees, citizens and
students recently joined in an effort to improve the Cherokee Nation Sam
Hider Health Center in Jay, getting it ready to receive a variety of new
artwork from Cherokee Nation Enterprises (CNE).
“The people here have a lot of pride in this community. These people
volunteered their time to come and work on their health center,” said
Melissa Gower, Group Leader for Cherokee Nation Health Services.
More than 60 volunteers arrived early to paint the interior and plant
flowers outside, helping improve the landscaping that had been
devastated by the recent ice storms. The center will be receiving
several pieces of artwork representing Cherokee history from the 1930s
to the 1960s. In addition, the health center will be receiving an
expanded parking lot, new waiting room chairs, a new roof, and
renovations in the dental and primary care areas. Volunteers included
students from the Native American Heritage Club in nearby Pryor, as well.
“It is a goal of mine to show our kids the importance of giving back to
the community,” said Sylvia Soap, club sponsor.
The Cherokee Nation Sam Hider Health Center opened in 2001 and currently
serves nearly 2,000 patients. The center offers outpatient acute and
chronic medical care, laboratory, behavioral health services, patient
benefit services, nutritional services, a pharmacy delivery service, and
contract health care.
