From gingerbread house competitions and visits with Santa to ugly sweater contests, Baptist team members have celebrated the holidays with joy and creativity. Many team members also gave generously, participating in holiday food drives and providing toys and clothing for children in need. Keep reading to learn more about Christmas events across the system.
Baptist Anderson
Team members at Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center donated nonperishable food items to Wesley House Community Center. They also adopted eight children from the Angel Tree. Several hospital team members from various departments donated Christmas gifts for the children.
Baptist Attala
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Attala won “Best Business Float” in the Kosciusko Christmas Parade. The float theme was “Healing Hearts at Baptist Attala.” It featured the Grinch in a hospital bed, along with characters from the children’s book, “The Cat in the Hat.”
Baptist Attala held a Cookies With Santa event for team members and their children. Guests could have their photos taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus or become the face of a gingerbread man with a photo prop.
The hospital also hosted a Christmas door decorating contest. The best overall winner was the Physical Therapy department. Radiology had the “Funniest” entry while Nursing won “Most Festive.” Lab was deemed “Most Original,” and Pharmacy won “Most Colorful.” Surgery was applauded for being “Most Sparkly,” and Primary Care won “Most Creative.” Medical-Surgical earned “Most Decorative,” and Project Search got an honorable mention.
Baptist Carroll County and The Jackson Clinic
Team members at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County and The Jackson Clinic-Baptist Outpatient Campus in Jackson, Tennessee, celebrated the holidays with visits from Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch! Both locations also enjoyed catered lunches.
Baptist Crittenden
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden team members enjoyed a memorable Mediterranean Christmas Dinner, organized by Christopher York, director of food and dietetic services, and his team. Hospital administration, including Samuel Pieh, administrator and CEO; Jeremy Webster, chief nursing officer; and Christina Nagy, senior human resources manager, helped serve the food.
Baptist Corporate
The Christmas at Corporate event held in the building lobby on Friday, Dec. 13 featured an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, breakfast treats, candy and pictures with Santa. Melissa Roby, denial mitigation specialist, was named the on-site winner of the contest, and Gloria Lurry, CPAC-Admissions representative, is the remote winner.
Baptist DeSoto
Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto joined with the DeSoto County Department of Child Protection Services to adopt 63 children in foster care this Christmas. Team members brought gifts to help make Christmas special for the children. Baptist DeSoto staff gathered around the hospital’s Christmas tree in the main lobby on Wednesday, Dec. 18 to present the gifts, which were transported by volunteers from DeSoto County Emergency Medical Services.
Baptist Leake
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Leake team members provided gifts and clothing for 17 children in the care of the Leake County Department of Child Protection Services.
Team members also participated in the first annual Gingerbread House Competition at Baptist Leake. Contestants used the provided kit and cake board, but other items were up to their wild imaginations. The houses were displayed for the public to view, and a Facebook poll determined the winner, which was the Therapy department’s beach house, complete with lounging bears and an ocean with fish! Other entries included Santa’s workshop, donuts and log cabins.
Baptist Golden Triangle
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle hosted pictures with Santa and milk and cookies for team members’ children on Monday, Dec. 16. The Administrative team stopped for a quick picture with Santa before delivering cookies to team members working the night shift. Team members working the day shift got cookies earlier in the day.
Baptist Medical Group Corporate
Baptist Medical Group Corporate gathered for a Christmas lunch and Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Director of Operations Katie Goldman took first place in the sweater contest. Manager of Clinical Services and Float Pool Melissa Wright came in second while Assistant Controller Michelle Dozier won third place.
Baptist Union City
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City team members enjoyed homemade molasses and peppermint crunch cookies provided by the Women on Mission group with Second Baptist Church of Union City. Each treat bag was labeled with the Bible verse John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Baptist Union County
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County colleagues joined with New Albany Middle School to adopt 16 students for its Angel Tree Christmas drive. Multiple departments adopted a student and provided gifts based on a list of needs identified by students and the school counselor. The Angel Tree project has become a Christmas tradition at Baptist Union County, enjoyed by all and appreciated by school staff.
Baptist Yazoo
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Yazoo held festive celebrations throughout December, beginning with department decorating, followed by a Cookie Swap with Hot Chocolate with Mississippi HomeCare of Yazoo City and Baptist Hospice. Team members brought homemade cookies and recipes to share. Team members also participated in a cookie swap with Adoration Home Health Care and Hospice.
At the Cookies with Santa event at Foundation on The Rock Ministries in Satartia, Mississippi, participants donated gifts for women and children. Team members also enjoyed a Christmas potluck in the hospital dining hall on Monday, Dec. 23.
NEA Baptist
NEA Baptist hosted the 11th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in the lobby of NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. Joseph Noto of the Bono Church of Christ told the nativity story. Country/Bluegrass band Chieftain Lane Revival sang Christmas carols, and Al Brodell, administrative director of NEA Baptist, offered a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.” Guests — young and old — enjoyed holiday treats courtesy of the NEA Baptist Auxiliary. Even Santa made an appearance!
NEA Baptist gifted bedding from hospital and clinic employees to the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace. The bedding will be delivered to children in need across northeastern Arkansas.
