During the holiday season Nicole Coleman, BSN, at Chester County Hospital enlisted the help of her fellow co-workers on her patient care unit to give to children and families for the Salvation Army. This year they were in charge of providing clothes to six children ranging from newborns to age 11. The spirit of giving isn’t new for Coleman or limited to the holiday season. Since 2016, she has organized a hospital-wide Easter basket collection for Chester County Department of Children, Youth, and Families, which distributes them among the children under its care. In each of the last two years, the hospital’s donated 160 overstuffed Easter baskets, typically filled with diapers and outfits for the babies and toddlers, toys for the kids, and gift cards for the teens — plus a little candy, of course!
Wanting to do more, Coleman has also organized a school supply drive for the organization. Thanks to her efforts — and the staff’s generosity — the hospital donated 55 backpacks stuffed full of pencils, pens, notebooks, binders, hand sanitizer, and gift cards last year and 71 backpacks this year.
Krista M. Brown, a supervisor with the Chester County Department of Children, Youth, and Families, said the impact on the families she serves can’t be overstated. “A lot of the parents that we work with don’t have the means to buy their own school supplies or Easter baskets because they need to prioritize daily essentials, like food, clothing, and housing,” she said. “They also help the kids have brighter days. It brings a smile to their faces, and those aren’t always easy to come by.”
“People have been so generous and giving. I never fail to be in awe of everyone coming together as a hospital to help out our community, and especially the kids,” Coleman said. “I’m proud just to be a part of it.”