Your Stories: Saint Francis Colleagues Support the Community with Annual Giving Tree
January 29, 2026Categories: Colleague Corner
The Saint Francis Hospital Case Management Department would like to thank the hospital community for once again making the Holiday Giving Tree a great success! For decades, members of the Saint Francis community have lived our Mission through generous support and donations, fulfilling wishes of children and the needs of parents and caregivers during the Christmas season.
(L to R) Christine Deschamps, LMSW, Parent Educator; Deborah Skipper, RN, BS, Regional Director of Care Coordination and Patient Placement; Maria Gomez, LMSW, Lead Parent Educator. The team takes their job of collecting and distributing gifts very seriously -- even dressing the part!
This past holiday season, departments and individual colleagues and their families collectively adopted over 30 families ranging in size from two to 10 family members. These families would not otherwise have anything under the tree for their children. Hundreds of wishes were fulfilled through tags on the Christmas trees, ranging from cleaning supplies to coats, bedding and toys. Dozens more wishes were completed through the Amazon Wish List.
While the gifts take center stage, what remains is the impact on families in our community; knowing there are others out there who care, and are keeping the magic alive for children and reigniting the magic for parents and caregivers who get to experience the joy of the season even in the hardest of times.
“Pride cannot begin to explain what it feels like to know we are a community of caregivers, meeting the needs of our neighbors, sharing our resources and most importantly, living our Mission every day,” said Patricia Berky, LMSW, CT PEC (4), Manager, Parenting Support Services. “Happy holiday season to all, and a happy, healthy New Year!”
The Holiday Giving Tree has expanded over the years, now offering three ways of giving – taking a “wish” tag off Christmas trees in the Gengras Lobby or Cafeteria, adopting a whole family to shop for as a department or individually, or shopping online to fulfill wishes through the Amazon Wish List. These efforts have grown thanks to the care and dedication of our Saint Francis community. If you would like to participate in the 2026 Holiday Giving Tree, please email PBerky@TrinityHealthOfNE.org as early as August.
Submitted by Patricia Berky, LMSW, CT PEC (4), Manager, Parenting Support Services, Saint Francis Hospital.
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