Baptist Memorial Health Care and Christ Community Health Services hosted the annual Tree of Faith, Hope & Love holiday luncheon on Friday, Dec. 12 at Memphis First United Methodist Church for Baptist Operation Outreach. The clinic provides free medical services to more than 1,300 people without permanent housing in Shelby County.
Volunteers helped make the Tree of Faith, Hope & Love event a success. During the festive luncheon, 45 volunteers served a hot meal and distributed 200 rechargeable warming coats and 200 backpacks filled with essential winter items, including socks, thermal undergarments, gloves, hats, scarves and toiletry kits. After the meal, attendees stayed to enjoy Christmas music while writing holiday cards to loved ones.
On Thursday, Dec. 11, 15 volunteers sorted and packed 300 backpacks at the packing party at Baptist Corporate office. The backpacks, provided by Baptist, Christ Community and both of their employees, will help attendees stay warm during the winter season. Backpacks that were not distributed at the holiday event were gifted to Safe Harbor of Memphis and Warriors Center Memphis.
“The Tree of Faith, Hope & Love brings happiness to those we care for through Baptist Operation Outreach, and it’s a special way for us to care for their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs,” said Keith Norman, vice president/chief government affairs and community relations officer for Baptist Memorial Health Care. “We look forward to this event each year.”
Baptist Memorial Health Care has been providing free health care to Memphis’ unhoused community since 1997. In 2005, Baptist Memorial Health Care joined with Christ Community Health Services to start the Baptist Operation Outreach mobile clinic for the homeless, which has since expanded to include a location in Catholic Charities of West Tennessee. Today, Baptist Operation Outreach is one of the largest providers of free medical care for the homeless in Shelby County.
Thank you to Baptist team members who have donated to Baptist Operation Outreach Tree of Faith, Hope & Love Fund through Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation! For more information about Baptist Operation Outreach, click here.
Team members can still donate throughout the year to help make such events as Tree of Faith, Hope & Love possible. Click here to learn more about donating to Baptist Operation Outreach.
