Prompted by an employee’s suggestion, the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District (RSRPD) Board of Directors voted last week to allow employees to turn annual leave time— paid vacation and sick time—into money for a one-time donation to help hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast region.

The district’s 74 full-time employees can opt to convert their annual leave time into a monetary figure based on their hourly wages. The board will then send the combined total to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina victims.

“I don’t know of any other company who’s offered something like this,” said Colleen Janssen, a spokeswoman for the district. “Basically, they’re giving up their vacation time to go for the cause . . . I think it’s a great idea.”

Mike Enge, an RSRPD supervisor, came up with the proposal. The 14-year park district employee was prompted by his own donation to hurricane victims and thought it could be a way for fellow employees to make a contribution without straining their pocketbooks.

“You may get some people to donate that may not (otherwise) be able to,” Enge said.

Janssen said the district has never made a donation this way to a charitable cause on behalf of the employees. Park district employees have been able to donate time to other employees for medical purposes and family needs.

In the coming weeks, employees will be notified of the option now open to them. The district will send in the donation on a date that’s yet to be determined.