Healthcare workers at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital (LIJ Forest Hills) brought the spirit of the holiday season to local families in need.
LIJ Forest Hills held a gift handoff on Thursday, Dec. 19, through its annual Adopt-A-Family program.
This year, Santa joined hospital staff for the event, which coincided with the hospital’s wreath lighting ceremony. Team members from 28 hospital departments adopted 40 local families, purchasing and wrapping gifts tailored to each family’s wish list.
“This initiative is truly important for the hospital and for our team members,” said Lorraine Chambers Lewis, President of LIJ Forest Hills. “I think the idea of giving raises joy in our hearts, so to be able to do for others is important. We’re a healthcare organization; we take care of people, and this is an extension of that. Folks are excited and happy to do it.”
The event also fostered a sense of community among hospital staff, according to Dimitrios Gounelas, associate executive director of LIJ Forest Hills. “It’s not only giving back to the community, but it also brings us together as a community within the hospital,” he said. “All of the gifts we are giving to the families that we’ve adopted have been purchased, wrapped, and brought together by the team members in the hospital who have participated. It means a lot to everyone involved.”
The gifts—ranging from toys and clothing to bicycles, school supplies, and gift cards—were distributed to families by representatives from local religious and community organizations. Collaborating organizations this year included Our Lady of the Angelus, Chabad of Rego Park, Jamaica Muslim Center, The Rock Christian Church, and Queens Community House’s Family Support Services and Pomonok Support Center.
“This initiative is special, because most people don’t do what LIJ Forest Hills is doing,” said Zani Simmons, community engagement director at Queens Community House. “The people in this hospital have taken the initiative to reach out to the community—that is lifting people up. It’s giving them a sense of being. People in the community are struggling; this hospital came along like knights in shining armor and took away a little bit of that pain and stress. The families I chose could not buy gifts, so this means a lot. This collaboration and support from LIJ Forest Hills is something that we always look for in our communities, and we are grateful for it.”
LIJ Forest Hills, located at 102-01 66th Rd., has long been a vital part of the community. The hospital is known not only for its commitment to providing excellent healthcare but also for initiatives that support the well-being of local residents. Programs like Adopt-A-Family highlight the hospital’s dedication to extending care beyond its walls.
