2021 Holiday Benevolence
By Pam Foster, DMin, BCC
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Last year at this time we anticipated the world would be open and we would be about our usual business. That has not been the case, but we have all persevered! I am so thankful for you. And, I’m glad that we get to kick off another season of Holiday Benevolence. Thank you for joining me in making the holidays brighter for many of the children and families we serve.
Below you will find links to the following:
- The Child Life Wish List. With these gifts, our Child Life staff will help Santa visit every inpatient and sibling on Christmas morning. These gifts will also be of benefit throughout the year as birthday gifts, encouragement aids, party favors, and game prizes.
- Articles to share with your family, friends, community, congregations, clubs, etc., wanting to help our patients during the holiday season: How to Help Cook Children’s Patient Families During the Holidays and cómo ayudar a las familias de los pacientes de Cook Children’s durante la Temporada de Fiestas.
- Ways to find holiday assistance for a needy child in your clinical practice.
Please Note: If your department or clinic prefers to sponsor a family for the holidays, you need to let us know by Friday, Nov. 19. We will do our best to find a match for you quickly, so you can take advantage of those great after-Thanksgiving sales. Please tell us how large a family you want to sponsor and any other restrictions/preferences--a clinic in a particular city might prefer to sponsor an outpatient family in their community, etc.
To sponsor a family, please email pam.foster@cookchildrens.org and include the name of the point-person for your group. (No individual sponsors, please.)
COVID guidelines: The gifts must be delivered in a safe, socially distanced manner. Please choose a central location to meet the family, and wear your mask at all times. We will not be entering anyone’s home.
Each year your response to the needs of children and families makes my heart smile!
