Wayne UNC Health Care donates toys for children
By From staff reports
Published in News on December 26, 2017 5:50 AM
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Shirley Harkey, senior vice president operations at Wayne UNC Health Care, and Bernadette Dove, EVS supervisor, with toys collected by Environmental Services teammates for the Salvation Army Angel Tree project. The hospital provided gifts for 78 children this season, including more than 30 bicycles.
Wayne UNC Health Care partnered with the Salvation Army this year for the first time, providing gifts for 78 children in the Angel Tree project.
The effort generated items for more than 10 percent of the children slated to receive presents through the program this year, officials said.
Each year the Salvation Army Angel Tree program is held across the country, relying on local communities to hold drives for new clothing and toys given to children at holiday time. Families of the potential recipients provide sizes and special needs of their children, and the information is recorded onto paper "angels" along with the child's first name, age and gender.
The effort at Wayne UNC generated a significant response, with employees collecting unwrapped gifts and more than 30 bicycles. One of the largest department-wide contributions came from the environmental services team, which adopted five angels.
Bernadette Dove, EVS supervisor, said her team of 58 staffers coordinated across three different shifts to collect donations and purchase gifts.
"We really saw the team spirit come out in everyone," she said. "And we were all so excited seeing all of the gifts laid out on the table, knowing that each child got everything off their dream list, and even a few additional things."
The hospital encourages employees to actively participate in such programs and services that improve health care access and reach underserved populations, officials said.