WRMC employees and community partners come together to help local children step into the new school year with confidence

At Washington Regional Medical Center, caring for our community has never been limited to what happens inside the walls of our hospital. Sometimes caring begins with simply seeing a need — and deciding to do something about it.

That is exactly what happened when Antoinette Norman, WRMC’s EVS Director and Payroll Assistant, began thinking about the challenges local families face as they prepare their children to return to school.

In May, Antoinette had an idea. She wanted to do something that could make the beginning of the school year a little easier for families in our community. Inspired by her love of Nike, she decided to organize a back-to-school event centered around providing children with something every student needs — a good pair of shoes.

What started as one employee’s idea soon became something much bigger.

Antoinette reached out to sponsors, sought donations, and invited others throughout the community to become involved. Through those sponsorship efforts, she was able to secure 50 pairs of new shoes and 50 pairs of Nike socks for local children.

As word of the effort spread, so did the spirit of giving.

When WRMC CEO Frank Avignone learned what Antoinette was working to accomplish, he wanted to help expand the effort and contributed an additional 50 pairs of shoes and socks. What began with a goal of helping 50 children had grown to provide 100 pairs of new shoes and socks for children in our community.

More Than a Pair of Shoes

On the morning of August 15, 2026, months of planning and generosity came together.

WRMC employees and volunteers joined members of the community, local EMS, and the fire department to welcome children and families for a morning focused on helping students prepare for the school year ahead.

Children received new shoes and were helped with trying them on to make sure they had the right fit. They also received new socks and school supplies, while families were able to enjoy free food.

Another WRMC employee, Marquis Pittman, found his own way to contribute, generously providing free haircuts to children attending the event.

Local EMS and fire department personnel also participated, giving children an opportunity to interact with first responders and learn about the important work they perform every day in our community.

But perhaps the most meaningful part of the morning could not be placed in a backpack or worn on the first day of school. It was seeing neighbors helping neighbors — and watching an idea born from compassion inspire others to ask, “How can I help?”

The WRMC Way, Beyond Our Walls

We are proud of the healthcare our employees provide every day, but we are equally proud of the hearts they bring to that work.

Antoinette’s idea is an example of what can happen when one person recognizes a need and chooses to act. Her desire to help local families inspired fellow employees, hospital leadership, first responders, volunteers, sponsors, and members of the community to join together and make that idea something much larger than any one person could have accomplished alone.

That spirit of giving is part of what we believe it means to serve a community.

At Washington Regional Medical Center, compassion is more than something we offer at the bedside. It is found in the ways our employees support one another, in the relationships we build with our neighbors, and in the willingness to step forward when someone in our community could use a helping hand.

For the children who joined us that Saturday morning, we hope a new pair of shoes, fresh haircut, school supplies, and a community cheering them on helped make the start of a new school year a little brighter.

And for all of us at WRMC, the day was another reminder that one caring idea can inspire many — and together, small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in the community we are privileged to serve.