Treasure Valley nonprofit hopes to support healthcare workers in crisis

MIDDLETON, Idaho (CBS2) — Healthcare Share Treasure Valley is a new nonprofit that hopes to assist healthcare workers in need.

"It was started so that we could pool community members together that work in healthcare, so that we had resources in the valley and kind of turned into both for healthcare and community members looking for resources," said Brandie Thomson, president of Healthcare Share Treasure Valley.

Healthcare Share Treasure Valley cofounders Darcy Jackson and Brandie Thomson say they raised $60,000 at a gala they held in October to launch their nonprofit. Of the $60,000 raised, they say they plan to distribute $20,000 to healthcare workers in need, with a donation limit of $500 per nominated healthcare worker.

"How we utilize those funds is by giving back to our healthcare workers that are part of our Healthcare Share Treasure Valley Facebook group," said Thomson. "There's other criteria, they have to be a part of that group for at least one year to nominate somebody and to be nominated for benefits, and those benefits are really geared towards healthcare workers that have had a crisis like a car accident, housefire, you know, health issues themselves where they can't work and we just help them pay a bill, whether it's a car payment, house payment, whatever."

While Thomson says they have had multiple submissions, only one submission has met their criteria. Of the $20,000 they say they have allocated for 2024 donations, they have distributed nearly $500. Jessica Vargas, employee at The Cottages of Middleton, is the first and only recipient so far.

"So I was in the hospital and I had to miss some work and now my bills are running up, but they were able to help me pay one of my hospital bills which helped tremendously," said Vargas.

Healthcare Share Treasure Valley paid off one of Vargas's multiple medical bills, totaling $480.

"We don't actually give the money to people," said Thomson. "We actually have them submit a bill to us and then we pay that bill for them."

Healthcare Share Treasure Valley hopes to find more healthcare workers that meet their criteria to allocate their donated funds to. You can join their Facebook group here.

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