Community Memorial spreads holiday cheer

Employees “adopted” three local families to make sure they had a happy Christmas this year.

HAMILTON » Presents will be under the tree this Christmas for three local families adopted by the employees at Community-Memorial Hospital as part of their “season of giving back.” The program, which began more than 10 years ago, has helped hundreds of individuals.

“Our employees look forward to the program every year,” said Dyann Curtis, administrative sec-retary, Office of Nursing Administration. “The generosity of our staff is amazing and I believe it is part of their holiday tradition.”

Each year Curtis coordinates with local schools to identify families in need. Once families are identified, a wish list is generated for each family member along with a “gift tag” for wish items that employees can select and purchase. In addition, employees make their favorite holiday cookies to be packaged for sale. Proceeds from the cookie sale are used to purchase additional gifts for the families.

“We definitely had another great year of giving,” added Diane Chase, senior director of Clinical Services. “More than 70 employees participated in the ‘season of giving back’ program. Most of the time we adopt area families through our local school district, but there have been some years, we sponsored families from Community Memorial.”

Deliveries were made this week, just in time for Santa’s arrival. “It’s a wonderful Community Memorial tradition that speaks to the dedication our staff has for the community it serves,” said Kelly Coates, Care Coordination.

For more than 60 years, Community Me-

“It’s a wonderful Community Memorial tradition that speaks to the dedication our staff has for the community it serves.”

— Kelly Coates, Care Coordination

morial Hospital has provided health care to thousands of patients throughout nearly 30 Central New York communities located throughout Madison County and beyond. The hospital provides primary care services with a network of five Family Health Centers (Hamilton, Morrisville, Munnsville, Cazenovia, and Waterville), an after-hours urgent care clinic, and 24/7 emergency medicine services.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton helps spread holiday cheer to local families through its “season of giving back” campaign.