Presents for Patients Campaign Kicks Off at St. Barnabas

As children sang holiday songs and a towering Christmas tree was lit on the St. Barnabas campus Thursday night, a special charity campaign was kicking off.

The festivities raised awareness for Presents for Patients® as community members joined St. Barnabas residents for roasted marshmallows over a bonfire, horse-and-carriage rides, holiday music, refreshments and Zambelli fireworks.

Presents for Patients® is celebrating its 28th season of helping to take the loneliness out of the holidays for residents in nursing homes and living assistance facilities in Pennsylvania and four other states.

Presents for Patients® Background

"Since its inception in 1984, Presents for Patients® has raised gifts and visits for more than 431,113 men and women in nursing and personal care homes in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, West Virginia and Tennessee," its website states.

"The program was founded by William V. Day, president of St. Barnabas Health System," the website states. "Knowing that nursing homes and personal care homes can be lonely places, his goal is to put a smile on the face of a nursing home patient while introducing members of the community to their local long-term care facilities."

The charity is headquartered at St. Barnabas Charities on Meridian Road in Richland Township. Last year it matched 27,482 residents in 322 long-term facilities with a community member who delivered a gift, according to the charity's website.

Getting Involved

The process is simple.

Basically, a volunteer “adopts” a patient, buys him or her a present, delivers it and visits for a while.

Presents for Patients® does the matching and sends out information about the patient and a three-item wish list.  Once a gift has been bought and wrapped, the donor calls the facility to arrange a visit.

The visit is the real present as many of the patients are alone, with no family or friends to stop by and see them.

Individuals, schools, civic groups, families, businesses and church groups are encouraged to adopt a patient or several patients.

If you don't have time to visit, you may also donate a gift or money to purchase gifts for the residents.

For information, call 724-443-0011 or visit www.PresentsForPatients.com.