Lunch With a Purpose Coastal Delaware members gathered Sept. 9 to support Nurses & Neighbors Collaborative, a local nonprofit dedicated to improving the health and wellness of neighborhoods through nurse-led programs.

Speaking to the 221 luncheon attendees, Bet Key Wong, a nurse and member of the board of directors, explained the history and programs of Nurses & Neighbors. The organization was formed in 2022 by local nurses who recognized unmet needs of the community, especially the elderly and homeless. One of the main programs, the Nursing-Transportation Partnership, connects older adults and those living alone who have no means of transportation with rides to important appointments and doctor visits. 

A guest speaker was Rhona Prescott, a retired U.S. Army captain, Vietnam War combat nurse, licensed clinical social worker, and advocate for veterans and people experiencing homelessness. She spoke about her experiences caring for soldiers with devastating injuries as a nurse in Vietnam during some of the most intense years of the war, and her subsequent service to veterans and others living with trauma.

She highlighted the Neighborhood Foot Care Patrol, another major initiative of Nurses & Neighbors, which provides education, screening and referral support to underserved residents suffering from foot problems and diseases that hamper their mobility and ability to remain active.

The event raised $14,195 in cash and in-kind donations, along with gathering 952 pounds of nonperishable items collected for the Community Resource Center in Rehoboth Beach.

Sussex County Habitat for Humanity will be the beneficiary of the Wednesday, Oct. 7 Lunch With a Purpose Coastal Delaware event to be held at Atlantic Sands Hotel in Rehoboth Beach.

To learn more, go to delawareinstitute.org and find Lunch With A Purpose/Coastal Delaware on Facebook.