Hospital Employees Bring Christmas to Area Families

Deacon Phil Muvich is shown blessing
some of the Adopt-A-Family items.

Approximately 57 needy families of the Calumet area will have a merrier Christmas this year thanks to an Adopt-A-Family program supported by the employees, volunteers, medical staff, executives and vendors of Franciscan St. Margaret Health.

The Adopt-A-Family program, now in its 26th consecutive year, allows departments or groups of friends throughout the hospital to "adopt" a needy family. Employees work with provided wish lists, which may include needed clothes, toys for children and a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. The hospitals' Mission Integration Committee identifies needy families with the assistance of several area service organizations. Families are assigned to participating departments in November.

Employees from the Surgical Services department brought
their gifts to the blessing on a stretcher.

Employees bearing wrapped gifts, boxes of food and other donations congregated Friday, Dec. 16, in the Dyer Campus auditorium and the Hammond Campus cafeteria for a prayer service and blessing of the gifts. Following the service, employees delivered the gifts directly to their adopted families.

Organizations that joined Franciscan St. Margaret Health's efforts include Citizens Financial Bank, Hyre Electric, Kindred Hospital and South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.