Gaylord Hospital treats patients who can't go home for the holidays with mini Christmas trees or menorahs.
Author: Jim Altman
Published: 8:02 PM EST December 10, 2024 | Updated: 8:03 PM EST December 10, 2024
WALLINGFORD, Conn. — At Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford, the team continued a tradition of making spirits bright for patients who can't go home for the holidays.
Partnering with Amazon, the staff at Gaylord received 140 mini Christmas trees and some menorahs to give to patients just ahead of the holidays.
“I think you can very easily lose hope around the holidays," said Tara Knapp, vice president of external affairs at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare. "Depression and loneliness, those things can set in and when you can deliver menorahs and Christmas trees, when you can bring back the normalcy of the season, it brings hope.”
Mike Murphy, an Amazon Northeast public relations specialist based in the Boston area, made the trip to Wallingford to watch the trees being delivered to patients.
“We all can think about what it would be like to be in a hospital or similar situation during the holidays. Trying to bring some of that cheer from home into the hospital, I think that’s what this is all about," Murphy said.
Between nurses, doctors, physical therapists and administrators, a team of Gaylord employees delivered trees and menorahs to any patient who wanted the cheer in their room.
“Little things make a big difference and this makes an impact," Knapp added.
