The holiday season can be difficult for those less fortunate in our surrounding communities. Money for presents is often not a part of the budget but, thanks to outreach efforts of many of our employees, the holidays were happier for those in need.
Over the course of 20+ years, participants in HUP’s Holly Days program have filled wish lists for hundreds of families, and our staff came through yet again. They “adopted” 22 families at Interim House (a shelter for women and children) and 19 veterans from The Veterans Group home for men. In addition, employees also helped the homeless teens who find a safe haven at Covenant House, donating more than $3,000 in gift cards to the organization.
Pam Mack-Brooks of the Community Health Outreach Program, and Heather Ross and Brenda Bradford of the Nursing Network Center all worked together to collect clothing, toys and gift cards for a variety of charitable organizations. Mack-Brooks said they were able to “adopt” 40 senior citizens at the Centennial Nursing Home, reaching out to those who sadly have no family or little contact during the year. The gift packs included pajamas, slippers, sweat suits, toiletries, socks, cologne and perfume along with a couple of “special requests” like a coat and hoodie
Toys are always on the wish lists of families and HUP always delivers. Donations this year went to both the Philadelphia 18th District Police Community Outreach Program and the Lutheran Settlement House/Jane Addams Place, a temporary housing facility for families waiting for a permanent home. “We in the Nursing Network Center wanted to help create warm and happy memories for the mothers and families they serve,” Bradford said. “We have been doing the drive now for over 11 years. Our nursing staff here at HUP are always so very generous. Hopefully we made some of the children of West Philadelphia very happy!”
And a special thanks to “Santas” Anthony Johnson and other members of the Mail Room for delivering all the presents and bringing smiles to so many people in our community.
Human Resources created 36 gift packs of scarves, hats, gloves, toiletries and snacks for The Veterans Group as well. “We also put together blankets for the men, from kits that had to be cut and tied together,” said Rosemary Cray. And to make the holidays a little sweeter, “we ordered a holiday cookie tray for them.”
For the fourth year, members of Pathology and Lab Medicine came through for patients at Children’s Hospital. Their annual toy drive, overseen by Richard Panak, brought in “boxes and boxes of donations from the generous members of the department,” said Suanne Gardiner. “The donations were organized and delivered by the hardworking elves in our Activities Committee!”
Staff on Silverstein 11 hosted their sixth annual holiday baking party at Penn Medicine’s Clyde Barker Transplant House. They baked 400 cookies and packaged them in holiday tins for House guests to enjoy!
Oncology social worker Brianna Simons set up a “shops” on Dulles 6 and Rhoads 6 for patients who had to remain hospitalized for the holidays and not able to buy things for loved ones. But no cash or credit cards allowed! Thanks to many generous donations she collected, patients and family members could choose gifts for free and even have them wrapped.
For more than 10 years, Penn Medicine employees have volunteered for the annual Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell Holiday Party for the Homeless and Disadvantaged. This year, 50 employees from throughout the Health System volunteered their time to wrap gifts and 150 participated in the Party festivities themselves, handing out presents and serving the delicious meal.
And perhaps our biggest outreach is the our participation in Penn’s Way, the combined United Way campaign with the University. This year, HUP, Corporate, and CPUP employees donated more than $620,000, which will have a major impact on the communities we serve.