Health systems and providers throughout Washington are celebrating Thanksgiving this year with their own special festivities. Here are a few of the ways WSHA members make this day unique through giving thanks:
Navos
On Tuesday, Nov. 20, Navos hosted a holiday dinner for clients and their families. This will be the only holiday celebration for many of the attendees, who live in poverty due to their mental illness. This is the 19th year Navos has hosted the holiday dinner, which was prepared and served by Navos staff members, the Board of Directors and community supporters. Over 90 people worked together to host the event. Navos prepared over 575 pounds of turkey, 700 servings of potatoes and stuffing, gallons of gravy and cranberries, hundreds of rolls, and over 450 slices of pumpkin pie. Navos also provided each guest with a basic hygiene kit, warm hats and gloves.
Providence St. Peter and Providence Centralia
At Providence St. Peter and Providence Centralia, staff will prepare annual holiday meals for caregivers. The meals will take place Dec. 5 and 6 in Centralia and Olympia, respectively. This is a yearly tradition to celebrate and thank caregivers for their commitment to the hospitals’ mission. Lunch is provided for daytime caregivers, dinner is provided for the night staff and a midnight meal is provided for the overnight caregivers at both locations.
EvergreenHealth
EvergreenHealth will be celebrating Thanksgiving by continuing its annual tradition of inviting staff who are working on Thanksgiving Day to enjoy a complimentary Thanksgiving dinner, with turkey and all the trimmings. Meals are served at the hospital campus at varying times to ensure staff from different shifts are all able to attend.
Morton General Hospital
A free Thanksgiving Dinner will be prepared for Morton General Hospital’s custodial care patients as well as their family members on Thanksgiving day. All hospital staff working that day will be able to partake as well.
Overlake Medical Center
Overlake Medical Center will hold a Thanksgiving turkey feast for 600. Patients and their families will be able to enjoy their Thanksgiving feasts together in their rooms, or family members can eat in the hospital cafeteria if they prefer. Staff will be offered their holiday meals throughout the day. In addition to the 325-pounds of turkey and all the traditional side dishes, dessert this year will be sweet potato pie.
Newport Hospital and Health Services
Newport Hospital and Health Services celebrates Thanksgiving through a variety of activities. Every year, NHHS administration gifts “turkey” gift cards to staff and board members, in the spirit of an old tradition where frozen turkeys were gifted. Earlier in the week, Long Term Care hosted a Family Thanksgiving dinner, where a beautiful meal of Cornish game hen and all the trimmings was served to 42 residents, 39 guests/family members, one volunteer and 14 employees. Long Term Care also hosted a Pie Bake Off contest, and staff and volunteers entered pies for residents to enjoy. And on Thanksgiving Day, the hospital systems’ dietary services, Pine Street Café, will cook a traditional Thanksgiving meal for both lunch and dinner.
Kadlec Regional Medical Center
The holiday spirit is alive and well in the Tri-Cities. The nutrition services staff at Kadlec Regional Medical Center is again providing free Thanksgiving meals to all patients. In addition, all Kadlec caregivers who are working on Thanksgiving are provided free meals during the holiday. This covers staff working all throughout the day. Separately, Kadlec caregivers and volunteers again have teamed up to collect and distribute Thanksgiving meals to women and children at the Domestic Violence Services shelter.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at WSHA!
