December 10, 2008

The UAB Hospital Maintenance Department will hold its 27th annual Holiday Toy Fund Celebration for the UAB Child Life Program. Hospital employees have collected donations to purchase toys and supplies for the children staying at UAB Hospital. The celebration will be Thursday, December 11 at 11 a.m. at the Second Floor Atrium of the North Pavilion. Santa will arrive on a fire truck with the Birmingham Fire Department at 11:15 a.m. and bring gifts for the children. And, as always, the UAB maintenance staff band, the Hospital Heartbeats, will perform live holiday music.

For nearly all children, there's nothing worse than spending Christmas in the hospital. For some sick children, like those awaiting heart transplants for example, a hospital is the only home they will have during the holidays. So the staff at the UAB pediatric unit goes above and beyond to make this a special time for those children who can't go home for the holidays. "The holidays can be depressing for kids and their families when they have to spend it in the hospital, so we do everything we can to make it a happy time," said Jane Love, Child Life Coordinator at UAB.

UAB Child Life is a self-sustaining program set up to help patients prepare for tests and treatments, and cope with chronic illnesses and extended hospital stays. The program relies on generous donations to provide a cheerful environment with plenty of activities for UAB's pediatric patients.

Throughout the year, the UAB Hospital Maintenance Department collects money for the fund. Through donations from UAB employees, friends and others, Hospital Maintenance has been able to provide children and their families a positive and uplifting experience during the Christmas season. Each December, the Hospital Maintenance Department throws a celebration to show their appreciation for the donations received and to give the kids a fun holiday party.

"This is an event we look forward to every year," says Doug Williams, an electrician in Hospital Maintenance who is in his seventh year of directing the department's fundraising efforts. "It's always special to all of us. We enjoy giving to the children."