December 9, 2005 Berlin, Vt – The R.A.V.E. committee (Recognizing and Appreciating Employees and Volunteers) at Central Vermont Medical Center came up with the idea to offer some support during this holiday season to a “sister” hospital or medical center in New Orleans.
The Touro Infirmary was selected after a review of hospitals in New Orleans to find one of similar size and scope of services. Over eighty percent of the 500 employees of Touro Infirmary lost their homes or were temporarily displaced during the ravages of Hurricane Katrina.
CVMC employees were invited to donate shoe box size boxes of gifts for children of Touro employees. All of the boxes are labeled with age and gender. Approximately one hundred shoe boxes have been assembled and wrapped. Employees report their boxes are stuffed with many goodies ranging from toys to candy and from coloring books and crayons to barrettes and hair ribbons. Many of the “shoe boxes” are from people with really big feet, given the size of some of the boxes!
The Infirmary received several similar offers from around the country and will be coordinating the reception of gifts and distribution of them to their families the week of December 19th.
“It is difficult for us to imagine the situation so many of your staff are enduring,” said CVMC President & CEO Daria Mason, in a letter to the Executive Director of the Touro Foundation. “We hope this token will help in some way to remind your staff that we share a special bond because of the work we all do to help others.” |
