St. John’s Spreads Holiday Cheer

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital completed its Adopt-a-Family Program distribution. As participants in this program, patients in need and their families were able to receive holiday gifts thanks to the generosity of donors.

Patients and clients enrolled in the hospital’s Behavioral Health Outpatient services, being coached by the Patient Activation Measurement (PAM) team, or discharged from the hospital in the past year were referred to the Adopt-a-Family program by hospital staff members on their treatment teams. Among the families referred are those made homeless because of fire, domestic violence, and loss of work, as well as battling various financial and medical difficulties.

Gifts were donated by various community groups, including congregations in the Diocese of Long Island, St. John’s staff members, and The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway.

Sophie Lifschutz, a 17-year old Senior at HAFTR High School was responsible for raising $2,300 through a GoFundMe page, bake sales, and other donations, which went to sponsoring one of the families in need.

“St. John’s is committed to the families that receive care from us,” said Gerard Walsh, CEO of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital. “Today’s Adopt-a-Family event is evidence of that.”

The staff at St. John’s would like to wish all a happy, peaceful holiday season!