Great River Health System employee donations top $100,000

West Burlington - Besides providing great health care, Great River Health System employees, medical staff and volunteers donated $114,100 to help the communities it serves.

In October, employees and medical staff pledged to donate $83,000 to The Burlington/West Burlington Area United Way in the coming year. Contributions help fund 13 local health care and human service agencies that provide programs for people in a 40-mile radius of Burlington.

The health system's annual food drive, which raised $18,000, began with a golf tournament in June and ended with a trivia night in November. With a discount from a local supermarket, 360 $50 food vouchers were given to food pantries in Des Moines, Lee and Louisa counties in Iowa, and Henderson County, Ill.

Health system employees donated more than $12,000 to charitable organizations by paying $2 to wear jeans to work on designated Fridays.

In December, employees, volunteers donated nearly $1,100 plus hats, mittens, coats and other winter gear to the Burlington and West Burlington school districts for student needs.