Wellstar MCG Health team members were in the giving spirit this season.
The Women of Color in Leadership (WOCIL), an employee resource group that is part of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), asked Wellstar team members to help fulfill the Christmas wish lists for 47 kids who are in foster care and ranged in age from 4 to 16.
Items hoped for included a cat cage, pajamas, sneakers, girl comic books, backpacks, Barbies, slippers, a remote-controlled car, books, a football, a laptop, and other toys.
Every item asked for was purchased plus more, said Pam Culberson-Brown, Nurse Manager of the Patient Service Center and leader of WOCIL. Four bikes were asked for, but nine were bought.
“People who participated went above and beyond,” she said.
The gifts were given to the kids at a Christmas party put on by the Department of Juvenile Justice on Dec. 19.
“The kids were very thankful and excited,” she said. “They couldn’t imagine actually getting everything they put on their lists.”
All of the kids are part of a Department of Juvenile Justice program that assists based on the individual child’s needs as assessed by a counselor and/or court. This can include homework assistance, tutoring, i-Ready program assistance, individual counseling (if required), along with arts and crafts.
“This is worth doing because the program could use support just like every other agency,” Culberson-Brown said. “They want to do things for the kids, but they need help.”
Giving to a cause in the community during the holidays is an annual tradition for Wellstar MCG Health. It worked with the Department of Juvenile Justice last Christmas, as well.
“Giving during the holiday is an obvious time but we’re working on doing more throughout the year,” Pam said. “It’s important for the hospital to give back to the community.”
