Friday, December 30, 2011

Departments give back to the community

Departments at CoxHealth have been working this holiday season to find ways to give back to the community we serve. In recent weeks, staff members in Case Management and the F300 unit at Cox North have made Christmas brighter for children in the Springfield area.

For the second year in a row, Case Management purchased coats for students in Springfield Public Schools. The Case Management team worked with school officials to identify students in need, then they went shopping. They made the most of the funds CoxHealth employees donated by working out discounts with Kmart and Kohl’s.

Just prior to Christmas, the department delivered 75 coats, along with hats, gloves and other winter necessities. They were even able to provide a few extra coats for schools to have on hand throughout the winter.

Staff members on F300 donated dozens of presents for students at Robberson Elementary. Shown with the gifts above are: Terry Earnhart, Shanna Stafford, Dr. Edgar Galinanes and Brittney Day.

Meanwhile, staff members on F300 at Cox North adopted 21 children from kindergarten through fifth grade at Robberson Elementary. Robberson’s counselor and principal identified students most in need and the F300 staff went to work fulfilling their wish lists. 
 
By the week before Christmas, the adopted children all had presents and stockings filled with goodies. The staffers also donated 35 new coats. Char Biamonte Stockl, Assistant Administrative Director in Psychiatric Services, says the staff members were so eager to help, the effort won’t end with the holiday season.

“We aren’t going to stop at Christmas, we want to make this a year-long, employee-engaged effort. I would like to see Easter baskets, a summer gift and fall events for these children,” she says. “We want them to always know that someone cares.”