Hometown Hero gives time to help others at local hospital

Henry McNeil is a regular inside the halls of the hospital and extended care facility at Loris Community System’s campus.  If he doesn’t know you, there’s a good chance he knows one of your family members or friends.

McNeil, for 20 years a custodian at Green Sea Elementary School in Horry County, always has an extra handful of change for families waiting outside the emergency room or operating room, or always has a Mountain Dew ready for his favorite resident of the assisted living center.

McNeil says he does it all for one reason.

“I do it for love,“ he said last week.

Even before his own mother was a patient at the extended care center, Henry would stop by and visit patients, and help the staff replenish table linens.  That’s how he got to know so many people there.

“I’ve grown to love quite a few people here, and they’ve grown to love me,“ he said. “Most of the ones that have passed on, but there’s a few new ones that I don’t know yet.“

McNeil also collects cans, bottles, and scrap metal, and turns it in for money. He then donates all of that money-plus all of the quarters he can collect-to families of patients inside the hospital.

“If you’ve got $5.00 in your pocket, and you want something to drink, if you don’t have any change, then that means you won’t get anything until someone comes around,“ he said.

McNeill is always up for a game of checkers with a patient, but he’ll even go the extra mile, and help families get loved ones to other hospitals if the need arises.

“I’ve been to Florence, I’ve been to Myrtle Beach with them,“ he said. “I’ll take the patient, if it’ll help the family at that particular time.“

There was a time when McNeil’s family needed help. More than 12 years ago, his grandson was born with serious health problems, and soon went on the list to get a liver transplant. The family was burdened by expensive hospital bills. But the community, including State Senator Dick Elliott, came to their aid.

“The community really helped us out well, not just with change, but a lot of money,“ McNeil said.

The staff at Loris Healthcare System says it’s the little things that McNeil can do-the support he can provide-that make the most difference.

The residents here are ready for conversation,“ said Judy Daniels, who works in the activity center of the extended care facility. “Whatever it takes to make them happy is what we do,“ she said.