Hospital spreads festive season cheer
UCT Private Academic Hospital outreach initiative supports elderly and people with disabilities
Staff members at UCT Private Academic Hospital (UCTPAH) spread a little festive season cheer to the residents at an old age facility in Observatory, Cape Town, by surprising them with close on 200 gift 'blessings bags'.
(Pictured: Some of UCTPAH’s staff members who organised close on 200 festive season gifts for residents of an old age facility in Observatory. From left to right are, back row: Gareth Francis, Sorena Cornelius; middle row: Confidence Mvududu, Abdeyah Abrahams, Darrin Martin, Tess Henriques, Mlondolozi Sonto, Jane Pedersen, Eunice Hangana; and front row: Ernest Coert and Mukhtar May.)
According to Lieselle Shield, general manager of UCTPAH, the blessings bags, which contained a variety of tasty treats such as biscuits, cakes and sweets as well as other goodies including scarves, socks and toiletries, were recently delivered to Arcadia Place Home, a facility run by the Department of Social Development that cares for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Shield explained that the caring personnel of the hospital not only sponsored the bags, but also ran a campaign encouraging hospital visitors to participate in this worthwhile initiative. Many donors personalised their bags by adding additional items as well as a personal letter of support.
"It was most gratifying to see how much joy the blessings bags brought to the folk at the home. We feel most privileged to have made a small but hopefully meaningful difference to the lives of those who are all too often forgotten by society and in need of a little attention and tender loving care," adds Shield.
"The enthusiasm with which staff members at the hospital developed this outreach programme and brought it to fruition is indicative of their generosity of spirit and the compassion they have for people within their communities. I am grateful to be a part of a facility such as UCTPAH where such acts of kindness are truly second nature," concludes Shield.
Ends
Issued by: Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of UCTPAH
Contact: Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Sarah Beswick or Jillian Penaluna
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]