Even though he has a busy schedule this time of year, Santa made a stop at Johnson Memorial Hospital to have breakfast with the children of hospital colleagues. The annual children’s holiday party drew more than 100 people including 86 children who enjoyed breakfast and a full slate of holiday activities.
Johnson President Robert Roose, M.D., MPH and his son meet Santa at the children's holiday party.
Entirely funded by the Johnson Medical Staff, excited children filled the CMEC building on the Johnson campus and enjoyed a morning program that was geared just for them. The children moved among several stations where they participated in crafts like making snowman ornaments and fingerprint Christmas trees and coloring, a candy station where they received bags of Christmas candy, and a station where they were able to write and send letters to Santa at the North Pole. The children also had a photo station where they could sit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and a special place to open their presents and play.
The annual children’s holiday party was a Johnson tradition for many years until the pandemic forced an end to in-person events, replacing the traditional parties with drive-by gift giveaways. “This year’s holiday party was a ‘throwback’ to the type of party we held before COVID, and it was very well-received,” said Lindsey Gamble, MSN, RN, Executive Director of Patient Care Services and Operations, Johnson Memorial Hospital. “It was so much fun to see the children react with pure joy and we are grateful to the Johnson Medical Staff for making it all possible.”