Good Samaritan Employees Spreading Christmas Cheer

Good Samaritan employees have been busy these past few weeks purchasing gifts for the hospital’s annual Giving Tree. Thanks to their generosity during this holiday season, 172 children will have a little something extra for them under the tree on Christmas morning.

Through the Giving Tree program, hospital employees bought Christmas gifts for less-fortunate children in the Vincennes Community, South Knox and North Knox elementary schools. Hundreds of gifts were collected for these children including toys, clothing, games, crafts and other necessities.

Rob McLin, President and CEO of Good Samaritan says the tradition of the Giving Tree allows hospital employees to assist families facing challenges this holiday season. “The overwhelming amount of support our caregivers provide for the children in our community is extraordinary,” said McLin. “Every year, our employees go the extra mile to ensure these kids have gifts to open on Christmas morning.”

For the Giving Tree, each of the grade schools provided the hospital with information on 20 to 25 children who were in need on Christmas. The parents of the children fill out anonymous information forms that include only the child’s sizes, interests, favorite colors and wishes. The information along with the child’s age is added to a tag, which is hung on a hospital tree. Good Samaritan employees then choose the children they would like to buy gifts for.

Good Samaritan started the Giving Tree program more than 30 years ago as a way to give something back to the community while also ensuring the children of Knox County have a wonderful and meaningful Christmas.

Employees also donated 260 Christmas stockings to residents in local nursing homes this year. Each stocking was filled with various items for residents that included items such as: small calendars, lotion, socks, lip balm, body wash, word search books, toothbrushes and more.