Our Story

How We Began… Our Founder’s Story

“In January 2020, none of us knew about COVID-19 or how it was going to affect us, let alone how close it would hit home. This unprecedented time, however, proved to be one that ignited love, empathy, passion, vision, and the birth of new beginnings for many.”

-Shelli-Ann McKenzie || Founder & CEO

The Stirring Spirit

As I watched the news daily, I felt something stir within me as I wanted to go back to help fight COVID-19 in my hometown, New York City. I felt guilty. Like a survivor’s remorse. I could not travel to NYC at the time but still wanted to do something for the Georgia healthcare workforce. Knowing how much I love direct patient care, and how involved I was when I worked in the clinical setting…The nurse I knew… was suffocating inside. I felt like my chest was going to explode if I didn’t at least try to help.

Throughout my career, I’ve served a variety of patient populations… in orthopedics, home care, medical-surgical and cardiac areas, to name a few. Not only did I provide diagnosis-specific patient and family education, but I also found the time to care for my patient’s emotional needs. I would listen to their personal stories of who they were as individuals, I would wash their hair, and every now and then, I would get the chance to sing for a patient. As I listened to the stories from my sister, an RN, my colleagues, and my former staff… I could not imagine the tremendous pressure nurses and other healthcare workers faced as they took shortcuts and functioned in specialty areas they were not trained in.

Over the years, I prided myself in thriving in high-stress situations. Using stress as a motivating factor for positive change But…at that moment…I felt completely helpless Like Mary Jane Seacole, a nurse pioneer fighting the Cholera epidemic in the 1800s, I had a choice to make and answered the call to serve when needed most. Already a nurse and community leader, I knew the frontline healthcare workers needed help to survive this pandemic… We were all in THIS TOGETHER. Who better to champion this effort than a nurse who once walked in their shoes? After 22 years in healthcare, I was now faced with the opportunity to lead in a different way. Not only did I provide diagnosis-specific patient and family education, but I also found the time to care for my patient’s emotional needs. I would listen to their personal stories of who they were as individuals, I would wash their hair, and every now and then, I would get the chance to sing for a patient. As I listened to the stories from my sister, an RN, my colleagues, and my former staff… I could not imagine the tremendous pressure nurses and other healthcare workers faced as they took shortcuts and functioned in specialty areas they were not trained in.

The Plan

I created a flyer requesting cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment [PPE] from my neighbors in my subdivision and scheduled 2 collection days. That week, I had 4 family members diagnosed with COVID-19, 2 resulting in deaths; my aunt in London, and my grandmother in New York City. They both died within 48 hours of their initial COVID Pneumonia diagnosis… Painful was an understatement…I was numb.

My family did not get a chance to identify my grandmother’s body for nearly 1 month! I wondered who held her hand…. I wondered who spoke with her last or saw her take her last breath… I wondered how the frequent deaths impacted my colleagues still working the front and caring for COVID-19 patients. I drove around tapping the horn and collecting supplies in the back of my husband’s Chevy Silverado. I sanitized our first haul and delivered them to the local hospital where my son was born. Not only did I provide diagnosis-specific patient and family education, but I also found the time to care for my patient’s emotional needs. I would listen to their personal stories of who they were as individuals, I would wash their hair, and every now and then, I would get the chance to sing for a patient. As I listened to the stories from my sister, an RN, my colleagues, and my former staff… I could not imagine the tremendous pressure nurses and other healthcare workers faced as they took shortcuts and functioned in specialty areas they were not trained in.

The Support Response

In less than one week, my spark ignited the flame in 50+ volunteers who joined our cause. I believed that if we mobilized people and resources, we could strengthen our frontline healthcare workforce. Some volunteers were sewing masks, while our restaurant partners helped us provide meals for frontline healthcare professionals and first responders. Always wanting to provide a means of advanced education and skills for nurses and allied health workers, the vision became plain. On April 1, 2020, I woke up impressed to formalize my efforts in a nonprofit organization. Over the years I volunteered for countless organizations and served my community, but healthcare communities needed my help.

In the midst of COVID-19, in less than 30 days, I successfully established a nonprofit organization, mobilized local businesses, established partnerships, and began supporting hundreds of healthcare workers within a 30-mile radius of my home. Despite some negativity about formalizing this nonprofit, I pressed forward, obtaining an IRS determination within 17 days of filing. Thanks for the support of the many volunteers who bought into the vision and supported wholeheartedly, with their time, talents, financial resources, and prayers of encouragement. I knew that this was meant to be and with God leading (at the forefront), nothing was impossible.

In the Summer of 2020, we filed for our first grant and received six-figure funding. We were invited to join Gwinnett Cares- a grassroots initiative formed to galvanize community stakeholders from all sectors to care for our community through the pandemic. Gwinnett Cares, powered by the Gwinnett Coalition, stills helps our community learn to coexist with COVID-19 and navigate post-COVID-19 successfully from relief to recovery. By Fall 2020, we collectively impacted more than 13,000 lives in 10 counties across Georgia. Each day, I remain grateful for the opportunity to be empathetic and nurse in unique ways. My passion fueled me to find solutions to help frontline heroes through programs geared toward crisis relief, education, and advocacy.

Present Day

I continue to work as a Nursing Informatics leader in Telemedicine. I utilize my nursing and technological skills to provide education, and advocate for technology that can be utilized to transform the way healthcare is delivered, especially through electronic health records and telehealth platforms. I also am committed to the continued growth of Help for Healthcare Professionals and I am grateful for each member of our volunteer team.

With an increased incidence of workforce staffing shortages, physical and mental burnout, as well as high turnover rates, we will continue to find creative ways to excite our youth and our community about healthcare careers. We will educate, recruit, mentor, and provide financial support to help aspiring and existing healthcare workers. Thanks for the support of the many volunteers who bought into the vision and supported wholeheartedly, with their time, talents, financial resources, and prayers of encouragement.