Community Corner

St. Barnabas' Holiday Celebration Kicks Off Presents For Patients Campaign

Gifts sought for nursing home residents.

When St. Barnabas lit its 90-foot-high Christmas tree Thursday night, it also illuminated a need.

The tree lighting was part of the Country Christmas celebration at the Richland campus that kicked off the 29th Presents For Patients® campaign. It brightens the holidays for long-term care residents by matching them with a visitor who personally delivers a gift. 

Paul Cathmar of the Arbors at St. Barnabas received the first gift—a cowboy hat and country Christmas CDs—at Thursday night's festivities. 

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The goal of this year’s campaign is serve more than 30,700 patients at 353 facilities throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, West Virginia, Tennessee and South Carolina.

Presents For Patients® is operated as a community outreach program by St. Barnabas Charities and is co-sponsored by WPXI-TV, which provided live coverage from the event.

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Those attending the event were asked to bring a new unwrapped gift for a nursing home patient, such as warm blankets, sweatshirts, non-skid slippers, pajamas, sweaters and large-print word searches.

Collection boxes were close to full near the end of the evening.

Horse-drawn hayrides, hot cocoa, roasted marshmallows over a bonfire, photos with Santa and Zambelli fireworks also were part of the festivities.

Those wishing to participate in Presents for Patients® may call 724-443-0011 or visit www.PRESENTSFORPATIENTS.com


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