Operation Healthy Ellwood: A Community Forever Changed by Care, Compassion, and Service

She walked out of the Ellwood City clinic with tears streaming down her face. For the first time in years, she had received life-changing care — care she admitted she could never have afforded otherwise. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she told local volunteer Rhiannon Schnell what it meant to her. Schnell could only reply through her own tears: “She has no idea what that meant to me.”

Moments like this defined Operation Healthy Ellwood, a 10-day Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) mission that transformed Ellwood City into a hub of compassion and service in August 2025. For nearly two weeks, 175 reservists provided more than $1.2 million in no-cost medical, dental, optical, veterinary, and behavioral health services to residents — and in doing so, became part of the community itself.

The road to this mission began in 2023, when Ellwood City officials filed an application with the Department of Defense. A year later, the borough was selected. Between 2024 and 2025, a steady stream of communication and three planning meetings with military leaders paved the way. Borough Manager Kevin Swogger summed it up simply: “This initiative delivered much needed care to the residents of the borough. Rhiannon played an instrumental role in this.”

Schnell, who served as the volunteer community partner and liaison, poured her heart into the project. But the mission became personal in ways she couldn’t have anticipated. During the planning stages, she grew ill and lost her ability to walk for six months. “This impending mission is what kept me motivated to move forward and get better,” she said. “This was my heart and soul for two years, and it was worth every single second of effort.”

From the moment the buses pulled into the Ellwood City School District parking lot, Schnell knew her efforts had paid off. “I was in tears when I saw them arrive,” she recalled. “The care and compassion shown by the military personnel to the community was something I have never witnessed. The military became like family — the community basically adopted 175 reservists.”

Led by Capt. Heather Edsell, officer-in-charge of the operation, and U.S. Air Force Col. Nicole Hurley (an Ellwood City native), who oversaw the broader mission, the reservists not only delivered critical care but also trained for real-world readiness. A mass casualty incident exercise tested their ability to respond to disaster scenarios while strengthening bonds with local emergency responders.

The statistics tell a story of immense impact:

• 639 general medicine cases treated
• 827 dental cases treated
• 193 behavioral health cases treated
• 236 sports physicals provided
• 1,281 optical cases treated with 1,056 pairs of eyeglasses manufactured and distributed
• 300 prescriptions filled, valued at over $7,000
• 536 veterinary visits completed

In total, service members and volunteers contributed 20,000 hours of time. The mission delivered $1,265,474 worth of no-cost services, supported by community donations of $13,200, with $13,022 spent. Not a single taxpayer dollar was used.

The community’s role was just as vital. Local businesses and individuals stepped up without hesitation, donating food, supplies, and even hosting a pool party for the military personnel complete with decorations, DJ services, and meals. According to Schnell, The Ellwood City School District, especially Director of Facilities Management Paul Pishioneri and his staff, was instrumental in the success of the initiative.

For Schnell, the most powerful takeaway was watching strangers become family. “I have not heard one negative comment about the operation,” she said. “Most businesses and community members stepped up without even being asked. When the military left, I was devastated. They became a part of us.” Schnell said the military personnel loved Ellwood City, often participating in planned community events including Wander Ellwood as well as events such as a random kickball game with the kids in Ewing Park.

Operation Healthy Ellwood was designed as a training mission, but for the people of Ellwood City, it was much more: a lifeline, a celebration of community, and a reminder that compassion can change lives. As Schnell reflected, “This is one of the biggest and most impactful accomplishments of my life.”