Thinking of others

“Gary, be careful of what you ask.” A wise person gave this advice to me a number of years ago and now I know what they meant.

Last week an email was distributed throughout the Brant Community Healthcare System inquiring about activities being held to celebrate the holiday season. I thought it would make for an interesting column. The response was overwhelming- so much so, that I can never mention them all here. I guess I should not have been surprised, after all, when you work with 2,100 staff, physicians and volunteers who choose to dedicate their working life to caring for those in need at a hospital, the holiday season is another opportunity for them to brighten up the lives of so many.

The ‘early bird gets the worm award' goes to the Nutrition department staff. According to Ruth Robbins, manager, the staff decided last February what they would do. “Debbie Grondlund suggested an idea to help the needy at Christmas and everyone agreed. Each week since then we have been working towards this month.”

The nutrition staff members donated a couple of dollars into the pot to begin with. Each week we had a game and last week when they tallied up the money there was more than $1,300!

“We have been linked with 2 families,” Ruth said. “One family has four children so we will be going shopping to make sure they have a Christmas that otherwise they may not- toys, clothes, even make-up for the teenage girls. We will also buy all the fixings for their Christmas.” Ruth fills with pride saying, “The staff here have such big hearts. I am so proud of them.”

Meanwhile, Mike Taylor feels the same as Ruth when he talks about the staff in patient registration, health records and switchboard.

“We decided this year to take the money we usually spend on Christmas cards and instead sponsor a family for Christmas. We have a shopping list for toys and clothes for a single mom and her three children. We'll also get them everything for their Christmas dinner.”

The hospital finance department have their money tree set up again this year and will donate the proceeds to the children attending the hospital speech pathology program. Manager, Elaine Delisle said, “We are also participating in the hospital- wide food drive and collecting food, toys, kitty litter for the animals that will be spending Christmas at the SPCA.”

Dianna Groulx's staff in environmental services started something new this year that they call a tree of giving. They circulated boxes to all the departments across the hospital to be filled with food, clothing and toys. “The response has been overwhelming,” Dianna reports. “Kathy DiSabitino and Hilary Stanley have done a wonderful job spearheading this project.”

The rehabilitation department is once again conducting their annual toy drive for the Christmas Baskets campaign and is actively working on a special dinner for the patients and families that recreation therapy in Complex Continuing Care puts on.

Corrie Bradford sent an email saying, “Boy do we have Christmas activities here in Complex Continuing Care!!!” Her list was about as long as others received from other hospital departments.

Thinking of others truly is the real meaning of Christmas.

Gary Chalk is senior executive director- public affairs & development for the Brant Community Healthcare System. Brantford general is a regional health centre providing primary emergency and specialize services. The Willett, Paris is a multi- service health centre providing urgent care, primary care and community outreach programs.