LOYOLA HEALTH SYSTEM GIVES THANKS BY HELPING COMMUNITY

The Loyola University Health System family is gathering together this Thanksgiving by collecting and assembling food baskets for families in Maywood, Broadview and Chicago. Physicians, nurses, staff, fitness center members and even patients are donating essential Thanksgiving items so families can have a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Items include gift cards to purchase a turkey, canned vegetables and cranberries, stuffing mix and non-perishable desserts. Some baskets even contain favorite family recipes, activities for kids and snacks for watching the football games. Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine students will be collecting and distributing the baskets to homes as well as organizations who help those in need. “It’s great for the students to see the entire health system working together as a whole to help our community,” said Michael McCarthy, chaplain, SSOM University Ministry Department. Last year more than 300 baskets were given to local families thanks to the Loyola family. “Baskets come from across the health system and every year people are so generous. Every year we get more and more,” said Cynthia Winters, basket coordinator, SSOM University Ministry Department. “We’ve seen some really creative baskets too. One group made their basket into a house.” Loyola will hold a Thanksgiving service at the hospital’s Paul V. Galvin Chapel on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at noon. A blessing will be said over a portion of the baskets and representatives from the Maywood community will receive them. “The Loyola family is so generous that there wouldn’t be enough room in the chapel for all the baskets,” said Sister Brenda Eagan, director, SSOM University Ministries. “This is just another way the Loyola values are embodied in this community. We don’t just talk about it we do something.”