05/28/2026
Foundation Partners with Hackettstown BID to Raise Funds for Emergency Department Expansion
Hackettstown, NJ — The Foundation for Hackettstown Medical Center is raising $1 million toward a $6.5 million renovation and expansion of the Emergency Department at Atlantic Health Hackettstown Medical Center—and a longtime community ally, the Hackettstown Business Improvement District (HBID), is stepping up to lend a hand – in more ways than one!
In addition to raising awareness for this vital project, HBID will organize “Hands Across Hackettstown,” a live, interactive demonstration of community support to take place during three major HBID events in 2026:
• Hackettstown Community Day – Saturday, June 6
• Hackettstown Street Fair – Sunday, July 19
• Octoberfest – Sunday, September 27
At a designated time during each event, attendees will join hands to symbolize support for the Hackettstown community, the HBID, and Atlantic Health Hackettstown’s Emergency Department expansion. Drone footage will capture these moments, and participants are encouraged to share photos and videos across their social media platforms. The grassroots display is designed to raise awareness—and funds—for a project that will impact patients and families throughout the region.
“This emergency department expansion is so needed, and it feels like a natural fit for the Hackettstown BID to help,” said Laurie Rapisardi, Executive Director of the Hackettstown BID. “Just as residents and business owners once came together during the Bucket Brigade fund collections in the late 1960s to help build the hospital, we’re carrying on that tradition—with a bit of a twist.”
“Whether it’s a dollar at a time or more, it all adds up,” Rapisardi added.
In 2025, Atlantic Health Hackettstown Medical Center saw more than 24,000 Emergency Department visits, representing nearly a 4% increase over 2024, with demand continuing to rise. The renovation will expand the existing Emergency Department footprint and incorporate underutilized space within the Radiology Department, creating a more spacious and private environment for both patients and staff.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and conclude in 2027. Planned enhancements include:
• Increasing total Emergency Department treatment spaces from 16 to 22
• Adding six dedicated behavioral health emergency treatment spaces
• Expanding the waiting area from 23 to 49 seats
• Creating a dedicated stroke bay with improved access to advanced imaging
• Adding a more private patient registration area
The Emergency Department will remain fully open and accessible throughout the entire renovation.
“Our generous community has always been a strong supporter of the foundation and our mission-driven hospital,” said Stephen Flynn, Director of the Foundation for Hackettstown Medical Center. “We’re excited to share this new fundraising opportunity and welcome gifts of all sizes. Every dollar donated brings us closer to our $1 million goal.”
Honoring the hospital’s Bucket Brigade fundraising success of the late 1960s, donation buckets will be available at the three “Hands Across Hackettstown” events for attendees who wish to contribute to the emergency department expansion.
Opportunities are also available for larger gifts made in honor or memory of a loved one, or on behalf of a family, business, or organization, with a selection of rooms and areas available for naming.
For more information about Hands Across Hackettstown, visit HackettstownBID.com.
To learn more about the Emergency Department expansion project or to make a donation, visit atlantichealth.org/hackettstownfoundation, call 908 850 6876, or email [email protected].
