by Mike Del Trecco, VAHHS CEO During the the time of the year when so many of us celebrate holidays and a new year, our hospitals have reached out to their communities and their coworkers to make the season brighter. Below is just a sampling of wonderful work they're doing. It warms my heart. Happy holidays to you, your organizations and your families.
Adopt-a-Family and Silver Stocking at Rutland Regional Medical Center
On Wednesday, December 11, the CVPS/Leahy Community Health Education Center at Rutland Regional Medical Center was filled with hundreds of wrapped gifts for individuals and families in need throughout the Rutland region as part of the Adopt a Family and Silver Stocking program efforts. This year, 30 RRMC departments and members of the hospital’s Board of Directors provided support for more than 28 families and 40 individual recipients through these holiday assistance programs.
To match individuals and families with RRMC departments we collaborated with approximately 25 organizations across the county, including local school supervisory unions, various health and human services agencies, and long-term care facilities.
These important programs help to make spirits bright during the holiday season. To see the overwhelming generosity and community support, you can view this photo album: RRMC Holiday Assistance 2024
Giving Tree at Mt. Ascutney
Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC), in collaboration with area churches, organizes the Windsor Giving Tree, a local holiday gift program. The Giving Tree helps connect generous community members to families in want of gifts for children up to age 12. This year, the program helped provide gifts for 123 children across 64 families.
For staff members, the MAHHC Senior Leadership Team helped serve holiday meals on December 18, when MAHHC also celebrated the season with a Festive Sweater Day!
Spreading Cheer: Stockings for Seniors at Gifford
A tradition that started in 2020 during our first holiday season with COVID, a time of heightened isolation for local seniors, continues to bring joy today. Holiday stockings are on their merry way to seniors in the greater Gifford community, thanks to staff and providers who donated items to fill 81 festive socks for Support and Services at Home (SASH) participants. A big thank you to SASH's Ann Howard for coordinating and to Randolph Area Community Development Corporation (RACDC) for partnering with SASH to bring services to local seniors. The bags are decorated by Gifford's Robin’s Nest Child Enrichment Center – they are very sweet and really brighten up the days of elderly neighbors.
A busy time of the year for giving at North Country Hospital in Newport!
Earlier this month senior team members stepped on to the café line to help serve a complimentary holiday meal to all NCH employees. The hospital Auxiliary has stationed six “giving trees” throughout the organization’s waiting rooms, where patients and visitors can select mittens, hats, scarves, and such, as needed. Each year, the hospital participates in the Gingerbread Family program, where departments adopt a family to buy gifts for. This year 21 families (70 kids) will have a brighter Christmas morning—each family receives a carload of presents—NCH's employees are so generous! An additional program called Grey Hares, through the NEK Council on Aging, provides names and gift suggestions for elders. Individual staff members select a grey hare off the tree, and provide a gift basket for an individual who may not receive anything at holiday time. Last week 65 kids of NCH employees attended our annual Children’s Christmas Party sponsored by our Employee Activity Committee, with a chance to visit with and receive a gift from Santa.
SVMC Giving and Gratitude
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) staff sponsored 31 Bennington County families over the holiday season, providing meals and gifts to families being served by the Vermont Department of Children and Families. This is an annual tradition has that has been growing every year to include more families.
Additionally, More than 600 SVMC staff, on campus and at off-site locations, enjoyed the annual Employee Appreciation Meal recently, sponsored by SVMC leadership. Staff had their pick of a free festive breakfast, lunch or dinner. The hospital’s Nutrition and Dining team made it all happen while continuing to serve patients.
Lots of Brightness at BMH
BMH has held a number of events and activities for employees and the community this holiday season. The hospital participated in a Secret Santa program to ensure that a local family in need will have wonderful gifts to open as well as basic household supplies. We also participated in Making Spirits Bright, an annual collection of gifts and practical necessities that go to a number of local charities and non-profits. The BMH Auxiliary held its 28th consecutive Celebration of Lights, a fundraiser for the hospital in which staff and the public can purchase (and dedicate) lights on the holiday tree located in front of the hospital. And as is our tradition, BMH employees enjoyed a complimentary holiday meal on Thursday, December 19th.
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