People across the Medical University of South Carolina and MUSC Health system are celebrating the holiday season in ways ranging from big stockings for little ones to what may be the biggest Charleston Angel Tree parade yet. Here’s a look at some of the efforts.
Charleston
The Angel Tree program and parade are the centerpiece of Charleston’s celebration. The program, run by the Salvation Army, turns to MUSC every year to help fulfill the requests of children whose families need a helping hand.
The results can be remarkable. MUSC Angel Tree organizer Melissa Kubu said employees bought gifts for more than 600 kids this year in Charleston. “I think it’s really important to note that we come together very quickly, because all of the tags were taken within a week.”
Some employees worked together to take multiple tags listing children’s first names, ages and holiday wishes. Christopher Hairfield, a nurse and instructor in the College of Nursing, led a team that helped about two dozen kids. “Nursing is a caring profession – that’s part of our structure, right? So this really resonates with us.”
The Dec. 9 Angel Tree parade, which Kubu said may have been the biggest ever, resonated with a lot of people, too. It had a big turnout on what for Charleston was a chilly day. “It's great seeing everyone in the MUSC family working together to support the youth in our community,” Kubu said.
Orangeburg
That support extends to MUSC Health hospitals across the state, including Orangeburg Medical Center. Like the Charleston sites, Orangeburg teamed up with the Salvation Army to gather toys and clothing for children. The hospital’s pastoral care team placed collection boxes in multiple locations to give everyone who wanted to participate a chance to take part in the holiday drive.
Midlands
MUSC Health in the Columbia area has embraced the holiday spirit, too. Midlands employees are donating toys to Sistercare, an organization that helps survivors of domestic abuse. They’re also doing a coat drive with an elementary school in Camden and working with two Richland County elementary schools to donate supplies.
Catawba
The MUSC Health Catawba Division, which includes Lancaster, Indian Land and Chester, is working with the Lancaster Department of Social Services to help kids in their area have happy holidays as well.
Lancaster-area employees are also carrying on an adorable annual tradition to the delight of some new parents. Hospital volunteers, working with seamstresses from a local Baptist church, are offering the parents of every baby born in December the chance to bring their little ones home in Christmas stockings.
Pee Dee
Some adults need assistance during the holidays, too, and employees in the MUSC Health Pee Dee Division are stepping up to help in their area. Organizer Kim Peed said they work with the Florence County Disabilities Foundation to buy necessities and other gifts for dozens of its clients.
