Another successful holiday season has come and gone at Pennsylvania Hospital. Units were decorated, meals were shared, and staff shared their season’s greetings with the community — and much more. As we settle into the new year, let’s take a look back on what made the holiday hustle and bustle so special at PAH.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
Hall-Mercer Community Mental Health Center kicked off the season with its 25th Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon. Every year, clients who utilize the center’s services, as well as underserved or homeless community members in need of a hot meal and some company, are invited to enjoy a savory spread. This year, more than 200 individuals stopped by to sample the event’s dozens of trays of turkey and trimmings, plus 37 pies, all made by PAH’s Food & Nutrition Services team.
Led by Patty Inacker, DSW, MBA, director of Operations for Hall-Mercer, 50 staff members from across PAH and the health system came together to decorate, serve guests, and make the luncheon comfortable and welcoming for participants. For many, this is often the only holiday meal they can enjoy during the season. “This luncheon really has become an event for the generations,” Inacker said. “Staff bring their children to help out year after year, and we’ve even seen reunions of family members seeking treatment when they come to eat. It really goes to show that Hall-Mercer offers a sense of community in every way.”
Just a few weeks later, all of PAH’s staff and volunteers had a chance to sit down and enjoy the hospital’s annual holiday meal together in Café 1751. Served by more than 100 managers, department chairs, and members of the executive leadership team throughout the day and night, the meal has become a beloved tradition that celebrates the culmination of another year of exciting collaborations and phenomenal patient care. Judging by the overflowing tray each employee carried back to their table, it’s safe to say this year’s meal was another delicious success!
‘Tis the Season for Service
While the holidays are often described as “the most wonderful time of year,” those struggling with low incomes, food insecurity, homelessness, or other medical and personal crises often require additional support to ensure the season is merry and bright, rather than another stressor. That’s where PAH’s compassionate and charitable staff come in.
During the annual Service Directors’ Holiday Party, for example, staff donated more than 50 new toys to benefit the women and children in recovery at Mercy Hospice shelter. PAH’s Cultural and Community Awareness Council also hosted a clothing drive to benefit community members struggling with homelessness. To spread the warmth, staff members donated piles of clothing, blankets, winter accessories, socks, shoes, underwear, and travel-sized toiletries.
This enthusiastic giving spirit also carried over into the 3rd Annual Adopt-a-Family campaign, organized by Hall-Mercer’s Children’s Targeted Case Management (TCM) team. TCM works with 100 children at a time, many of whom need more than just medical and behavioral health resources. Some come from low-income, one-parent homes, while others come from families that have been displaced and are now struggling to afford regular meals. This year, 39 families facing extreme financial burdens provided wish lists, and 35 departments across PAH granted their wishes (and more!) by “adopting” them for the holidays. The outpouring of gifts included everything from board games to dolls to dishes, all of which were beautifully wrapped, then distributed to the families one by one.
“My case workers work closely with these families and see the hardships and setbacks they experience,” said Joelle Bradley, LCSW, TCM program manager. “Working with the hospital to deliver much-needed household items and special gifts that make the holidays feel fun and special helps all of us feel connected to our mission and supported in our work. For these families — imagine moving out of a shelter into a home and already having all the bedding and starter kitchen stuff you need! They are so grateful and really do feel the outpouring of love and holiday magic from our community.”