Donating Much Needed Supplies and Christmas Gifts to Homeless Families

In lieu of the traditional department Christmas gift exchange, the team of nurses in the Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) department at Westmoreland Hospital chose to adopt families at a local Women’s shelter. “I was thinking how many people are in need, whether it be warmth, homelessness or food and how nice it would be to give back,” Amy Rose, BSN, RN.    

Rose and her colleagues coordinated with the Welcome Home Shelter in Greensburg, which can offer temporary emergency housing for 10 single women and 4 families for 30 -60 days.

The shelter emailed Rose a wish list from the children of three families and single women.  The team made tags to itemize the list of items requested and placed them on a tree in the department where anyone interested in contributing could select a tag.

In addition to emergency housing, meals and basic needs, the shelter offers case management, on-site behavioral health counseling as well as life skills classes on various topics such as cooking, budgeting and home management.

“It amazed me that the things they asked for were things like dish towels, food storage containers, pots and pans and cleaning items…things we take for granted,” said Karen Soltez, MSN, RN, Director, Perioperative Services.

The team was successful in fulfilling all requests.  “My heart was so full,” said Rose.  “My co-workers are so kind, thoughtful and generous.  I am so blessed to have great co-workers.  We just wanted to give to those in need and what better time than Christmas.”