Saint Thomas DeKalb and Saint Thomas Stones River’s associates look forward to the holidays every year, but it’s not the holiday ham or Christmas egg nog that gets these two regional hospitals most excited. The staff works hard all year long doing whatever it takes to bring Christmas to needy teens in their area. From bake sales to ham raffles, the associates raise thousands from their own pockets ensuring that the teens of the Indian Mound Boys Home have a very Merry Christmas.
The funds raised provides a new pair of shoes, and an outfit for each teen. A special Christmas party is held in their honor, with a surprise visit from Santa. It takes nearly three dozen pizzas to feed these hungry teens. Stockings full of gifts and homemade treats from the dietary department are presented to all, along with a tin of warm cookies.
“This event is the highlight of our holiday season,” said CEO Sue Conley, “Many of these boys have no family or home to visit for the holidays, so this is the only Christmas they will have. Last year, one of the boys asked for tape so that he could re-wrap his gifts and open them again on Christmas morning. He said it was the first presents he had ever unwrapped. It’s things like this that show us how blessed we truly are.”
“I am always amazed at the outpouring of generosity that comes from our staff when we ask,” said Marketing Director Shan Burklow, “They give generously to anyone in need all year long, not just for a single event. We not only raised money to help the teens at Indian Mound Boys Home, but also adopted seventeen homeless and needy babies in our area – providing them clothes, diapers, and blankets. Our staff was so moved by their extreme needs, that they even purchased scarves and gloves for the moms as well. In a way, it’s like we are celebrating Christmas all year long,” Burklow smiled, “Helping others is what our associates do best.”
To see more photos from these holiday events, join their facebook pages: Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital / Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital
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