Christmas at WMH means that lots of people put in extra time and effort to make sure that our clients and families have a wonderful Christmas. Our staff, clients, and community members partner together in multiple ways to create a magical Christmas. Wondering what all goes into that?
Here’s some of what it takes:
1 –The number of extremely organized coordinators for the Sub for Santa program for our adult clients. Thanks, Jennie! Jennie has enhanced the program over the past two years thru a partnership with United Way that has helped free up staff time which had been spent on this project. Plus it gives the community an opportunity to be involved and increase awareness of the needs of the mentally ill. A definite win-win! Jennie could not have done it without the help of others–special shout out to Diane for her help! Many of our adult clients are included in United Way’s Sub for Santa program with the intent to find individual/family sponsors or thru Angel Tree tags. This year, all 120 of these clients were sponsored by the employees of Ancestry.com. Over 80 others were sponsored by WMH employees, Housing Authority of Utah County employees, Advisory Board members, Provo Police Department, Canyon Ward, and others. Thank you!
205– The number of adult clients who will be remembered on Christmas and receive gifts through our Christmas program. Many of them are estranged from their families or have very little contact and would not receive gifts from anyone else. This number has increased from year to year. Providing a holiday to someone who isn’t expecting anything is a memorable experience! We have had clients respond with tears in their eyes saying that they haven’t received a Christmas gift from anyone since they were children.
70– The number of children who are receiving gifts thru youth programs at WMH. Many of our families qualify for the United Way Sub for Santa program, but some do not. Case managers work with families to help coordinate and meet family needs.
2– BYU Singles Wards who raised money and sponsored 48 of our youth clients by themselves! This is something they have been doing for several years and their efforts are so appreciated! Thanks to them, UVRMC employees, and our WMH employees we have found sponsors for all of our youth. Thanks to Kathy F for her efforts to coordinate this!
13– Bicycles donated from the Provo Bicycle Collective. Thanks for donating reconditioned bikes to our child clients. There will be some happy smiles on Christmas morning!
2000 Plus!-The number of hygiene kit items donated by staff in our interdepartmental contes. The winning departments were the Spanish Fork Family Clinic/American Fork Family Clinic with 539 items combined. The winning programs will have a hot chocolate party to celebrate—the program manager may or may not have promised additional enticement to them to participate! Hey, all’s fair in a friendly competition. Congratulations!
A hygiene kit is included along with a gift box for each adult client participant. Cleaning and personal care items can be super expensive for those on limited incomes and so these items are appreciated!
2-Clients who donated crocheted blankets, scarves, and hats as gifts for the Christmas project.
30-The number of volunteers who came in over the weekend to put together hygiene kits, box up gifts, get everything organized, and make sure that everyone was covered and taken care of. “Santa’s Workshop” was one BUSY place and will remain that way this week while case managers help to deliver presents.
Thank you to all of our employees and those in the community who have helped to make Christmas merry and bright for a lot of people!
by Lisa Schumacher, LMFT