New Comfort Closet at AtlantiCare Puts ‘Service Above Self’ Into Action for Patients in Need

When Kelly Willman, MD and Trauma Level II Medical Director at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center - Atlantic City, reflected on the dedication of her colleagues, she saw a natural connection to Rotary. While serving as president of the Rotary Club of Somers Point and inspired by the shared commitment to service, she helped establish a workplace-based Rotary model within the hospital.

The result is the Healthcare Satellite Club of the Rotary Club of Somers Point. Launched in 2024, the club now includes 14 members, all AtlantiCare healthcare team members who meet regularly at the hospital and communicate frequently to identify ways to support their patients and community.

One of their first projects is already having a powerful impact. With support from Rotary District 7505 and a $5,000 grant from the Rotary Foundation’s District Designated Funds, the club created the Comfort Closet, a stocked resource for patients being discharged who lack basic clothing or hygiene items, many of whom face housing insecurity or other serious challenges.

Working in partnership with AtlantiCare leadership and staff, the club set up a dedicated space inside the hospital and filled it with essential items, including:

• Shirts, sweatpants, sweatshirts, shorts, and jackets
• Socks, underwear, hats, gloves, and sandals
• Reusable bags containing shampoo, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, and other toiletries
   

The Comfort Closet officially opened on June 6, 2025, during a celebration attended by club members, hospital leadership, and District Governor Steven Neuner.

“Service above self is part of our everyday lives in medicine,” said Dr. Willman. “This project gave us a way to continue that service beyond the clinical setting.”

Fellow members agreed.

“We take care of patients during their most vulnerable moments,” said Erin Yakopcic, Trauma Advanced Practice Nurse. “Our support shouldn’t stop when the shift ends.”

Michele Hansen, RN and Trauma Registrar, described the Comfort Closet as “a quiet, consistent act of kindness.” Danielle Carney, an RN in Trauma ICU added, “We saw a need, worked together, and created something that can truly help.”

Plans are already underway to expand the Comfort Closet model to other medical facilities in the region.

The Healthcare Satellite Club exemplifies how Rotary values can flourish in professional settings, especially when members align service with their everyday work. The club continues to grow and welcomes inquiries from other Rotary groups interested in replicating the model.