Brandon Hospital adds ECHO's Closet to provide access to clothing

HCA Florida Brandon Hospital has partnered with Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) to provide clothing essentials to patients in need. They may have had their clothing damaged in emergency care, homeless and/or need support from the community.

Brandon Hospital has ECHO’s Closet now located in the emergency department. It provides clothing of all sizes for men, women and children.

“At ECHO, we are bridging the gap between crisis and stability every day. Creating a patient clothing closet at Brandon Hospital is simply one more way for ECHO to show the community our heart. We feel grateful that Brandon Hospital has joined our cause to give patients access to much needed clothing. After emergency care, people face many challenges to recover and return to their daily lives. We feel that we have a partner in Brandon Hospital in this process,” said Annmarie Macaluso, ECHO Store Manager.

“It’s important that when a patient is being discharged that they are looking and feeling their best. By providing clothes, especially for patients whose clothes were severely damaged in emergency care or to those who just don’t have a clean outfit, we feel like we connect better with the community. We want to take care of their health, but also their overall well-being. Not only does ECHO’s Closet connect them with clothing when they are in need, but we are able to guide patients to the great resource we have in this community with ECHO,” said Dr. Sergio Martinez, emergency room physician at Brandon Hospital.

Clothing donations can be dropped off at one of the ECHO Thrift locations: ECHO North at 424 W. Brandon Blvd and ECHO South at 815 W. Bloomingdale Ave. Financial donations can be provided at https://echofl.org/give-today/.