Led by the Community Health and Wellness Department, Southcoast Health employees across the system participated in a holiday collection drive benefitting both organizations throughout the first two weeks of December. Items donated ranged from toys, art and crafts, clothing and household items for children, teens and adults.

“The amount of generosity shown here at Southcoast Health is overwhelming,” said Alison LeBert, Manager of Community Health and Wellness for Southcoast Health. “Our annual holiday drive is just another example of how our employees go above and beyond to care for our community. It’s truly a testament to our commitment to support and serve the people of our region.”

Many employees chose to give back by adopting specific families to shop for this holiday season. Additionally, four different volunteer groups visited My Brother’s Keeper in Dartmouth, MA, to help wrap the donated presents and toys that will be delivered to families.

“The demand for Christmas assistance this year was so high that My Brother’s Keeper opened its Christmas helpline on August 1, the earliest in our 34-history with this program,” said Paul Key, Chief Development Officer at My Brother’s Keeper. “We deliver Christmas gifts to families in almost 100 cities and towns throughout Massachusetts. We’re extremely grateful to the employees at Southcoast Health for making this year’s delivery of gifts possible.”

The donations collected by United Way of Greater New Bedford are also distributed to local families in the area. “The impact of these donations symbolize the true spirit of the holiday season,” said Victoria Grasela, VP of Marketing and Community Engagement for United Way of Greater New Bedford. “Over 170 kids were part of United Way of Greater New Bedford’s giving trees with local companies. The success of this year’s holiday drive would not have been possible without the support of organizations like Southcoast Health. The employees’ kindness has made a difference.”

Throughout the year, the Southcoast Health’s Community Health and Wellness team collaborates with more than a hundred community partners to understand, prioritize and develop programming to address the most pressing needs of our community. 

“Southcoast Health is committed to our mission of providing healthcare that extends beyond direct patient care. We understand that the environment in which we live, work, play, and age is the greatest indicator of health and overall wellness. We are delighted to assist these organizations and make a difference in our community.” added LeBert.

To learn more about Southcoast Health’s community benefits programs, please visit www.southcoast.org/southcoast-health-cares/.