For the fourth year, Lieutenant Governor Gregory R. Francis spent time making the holidays a little brighter for children in the pediatric ward at Schneider Regional Medical Center.
Francis joined members of his staff on St. Thomas Friday, for the annual gift giving presentation, which supplied each child on the ward with gender and age appropriate presents.
The Employee Relations Committee within the Lieutenant Governor’s Office fundraises throughout the year, holding bake sales and car washes, but also donates their own money to make sure there is enough presents to go around.
“We want to make sure the youngest patients in the hospital, those that are unable to be at home with their families, are still able to enjoy Christmas,” said Shawna Richards, spokeswoman for the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.
The hospital works with Francis and his staff throughout the year by providing information on the patients that will likely be on the ward during the holidays, their age, and whether they are a boy or girl. Getting the information ahead of time, so that the gifts match their intended patient, helps make the presentation even more personal, staff members said.
This year, three patients received gifts. Any extra items are generally given to the Nana Baby Home and other worthy local charities; however, this year they were given in full to the hospital in case any new patients come in during the holidays, Richards said.
The pediatric ward was also given a brand new 32-inch RCA flat screen television and DVD player to entertain patients throughout the year.
