Holiday Giving Tree Benefits Two Centers

Residents at two North Shore Healthcare centers received some extra holiday cheer in 2023.

North Shore Healthcare Support Center employees in Milwaukee, Wisconsin purchased Giving Tree gifts for approximately 73 residents at Minot Health and Rehab in Minot, North Dakota and Menominee Health Services in Menominee, Michigan. Gifts, such as coloring books, candy, snacks, blankets, and toiletries were ordered through Amazon.com and delivered to the centers shortly before Christmas.

Although Minot Health and Menominee Health are further away from most of the Wisconsin-based North Shore centers, event organizer, North Shore’s CARES (Courteous, Attitude, Reliable, Engage, Satisfaction) Committee, wanted to make sure they knew they were still part of the North Shore family.

“Sadly, most of our residents have few friends and family that can visit,” said Amy Waller, Director of Compliance for North Shore Healthcare. “This has made it especially difficult these past years with COVID. If we can make one resident smile this holiday season with a gift they’ve chosen, it makes it all worth it.”

And lots of smiles there were at Minot Health as residents opened their gifts on Christmas. Minot’s Resident Council, as well as staff, were beyond appreciative for the Support Center and CARES Committee efforts.

“The North Dakota center may be distant from our Support Center, but we continue to observe our value on understanding what is important to the people we serve,” said Chris Haseleu, Executive Director at Minot Health. “The passion of giving continues to keep engagement of our residents by following our mission on being the premier health services provider and employer in the community that we serve.”

Menominee Health Services staff inventoried the gifts as they poured in. Residents were assigned gifts, based on their needs and interests, and staff wrapped the presents. Menominee Health Services Executive Director Kelley Walerski said being chosen as a Giving Tree recipient alleviated pressure from the staff, who typically host an Angel Tree, so residents have gifts to open on Christmas.

“Personally, I am so grateful for the thoughtfulness of the Support Center staff to ensure each of our residents had a gift,” she said. “I can’t say enough, how thankful we are to have been chosen for the Giving Tree.”