Vice President Mike Pence and Governor Ron DeSantis Deliver PPE to Westminster Baldwin Park
ORLANDO, May 20 – Today, Westminster Baldwin Park was pleased to welcome to our community Vice President of the United States Mike Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Seema Verma. Their visit was to deliver much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for the safety of our residents and team members, through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Westminster Baldwin Park, a neighborhood of Westminster Winter Park, is an active senior living community featuring independent living residences and a 40-bed Rapid Recovery Unit for skilled nursing.
“We are pleased that Vice President Pence, Governor DeSantis and Administrator Verma came to Westminster Baldwin Park to show their support for the residents we serve and for senior living communities,” said Westminster Winter Park Executive Director Tom Rockenbach.
From left, Shirley Schultz, Director of Nursing, and Fanley Romelus, Health Services Administrator, hold boxes of personal protective equipment signed by Vice President Pence, Governor DeSantis and Administrator Verma.
Pence, DeSantis and Verma delivered 10 boxes of gowns, gloves and surgical masks from the federal government to Westminster Baldwin Park. It was part of Verma’s initiative to send supplies, on behalf of CMS, to the more than 10,000 skilled nursing facilities throughout the United States.
All three signed several supply boxes for the community. Afterward, Pence commented, “I actually delivered these personally on Air Force Two today.”
Following the delivery, Pence and DeSantis greeted the nursing team members at Westminster Baldwin Park via cell phone to thank them for their hard work in serving older adults. “We are incredibly proud to be here and to meet you,” Pence said. “Here at Westminster Baldwin Park, you have done a phenomenal job of caring for our vulnerable seniors. On behalf of the president and the United States, thank you all very much and god bless you. Keep up the great work!”
From left, DeSantis and Pence speak with Schultz and Romelus about the challenges of providing a safe environment for residents and team members.
Although Pence, DeSantis and Verma weren’t able to come into Westminster Baldwin Park for safety, Pence and DeSantis gave a special greeting to the residents, who were lined up in their windows to watch.
DeSantis joined the call to offer his thanks. “The fact that you have gone so long without a single case shows that you have done a great job,” said DeSantis.
Westminster Baldwin Park is fortunate that none of our residents or team members have tested positive for COVID-19. We have put in place a variety of active measures to ensure the safety of everyone at our community.
We thank Vice President Pence, Gov. DeSantis, FEMA and the Trump administration for their support in making senior living communities like ours safer.
To learn how we’re navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, visit our COVID-19 resources page at www.WestminsterCommunitiesFL.org/coronavirus-news-and-resources
