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A check was presented to Strong by Christy Hendrie, a family nurse practitioner graduate of Sacred Heart ’s School of Nursing and new state regent for the CTSSDAC. The presentation took place at the Hall Neighborhood House in Bridgeport, where Strong operates Aging with Grace, a community health outreach program.
Strong, Hendrie, SHU senior nursing students, representatives from Optimus Healthcare (which supports Hall House) and other CTSSDAC officials were at the presentation.
“My daughter, Sarah Hendrie Ekman, was a 2004 SHU graduate and interned in Public Health Nursing with Dr. Strong,” Hendrie explained.
“She really respected Dr. Strong’s work. Sarah is now a cardio-thoracic step-down nurse at Danbury Hospital and credits Dr. Strong as an influence. Because of Sarah’s experience, I enrolled in the family nurse practitioner program. Those touchpoints and the needs of Dr. Strong’s program at Hall Neighborhood House drove my decision to support it.”
The facility, on Bridgeport’s lower east side and serving the Greater Bridgeport community, offers several programs including Agency for Bridgeport Community Development (ABCD), which runs a daycare/pre-school for children ages two to six; afternoon and evening summer activities for teens; and more.
Strong founded Aging with Grace on April 19, 2001, working at first from quarters at St. Charles Roman Catholic Church and serving about 10 clients per week along with community walk-ins.
“We relocated to Hall House in 2010, and now we serve a minimum of 43 people each week, on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.,” Strong said.
“Breakfast comes out of my salary; the City of Bridgeport funds lunch; and I, along with SHU nursing students at all levels — from first professional degree to doctorate —and members from Optimus Health Care provide medical, social and housing services.”
The CTSSDAC donation will, specifically, go towards purchase of a pulse oximeter with heart rate monitor, a glucometer, stethoscopes, sphygmos, a locking cabinet, a cholesterol assessment machine, an A1C machine and related supplies.
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