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St. Joseph Hospital's generosity blesses 63 area families
By John J. Hopkins Times
Dozens of volunteers who helped collect and donate more than five dozen food baskets to distribute to needy families throughout the community gathered in the main lobby of St. Joseph Hospital on Tuesday where Debbie Parkot addressed the group. The baskets, 63 in all, sat in the lobby where they would be blessed by Sister Maureen Boyle. But before the blessing, Parkot wanted to share a story.
Parkot, who organized the annual event, told the assembly about a single working mother of three children who works with her daughter at an Erie County restaurant.
All three of the woman's children, between the ages of 10 and 15, were home sick and there was no food in the house.
The woman, who is undergoing radiation treatment for cancer, went to the restaurant. She hoped to work that day so that she could buy some food for her children, but she wasn't on the work schedule.
At one point, she collapsed from exhaustion. Later, she returned home in tears, with $2 in her pocket and empty cupboards.
"This is why we have a system like this," said Parkot, who is vice president of Mission Integration for the Catholic Health System hospital.
The woman's 15-year-old son decided to work at the restaurant and give all of the money he earned to his mom. He and his siblings told their mother they didn't want any Christmas gifts.
"We just want you to get better, Mom," they told her.
The woman's plight weighed heavily on Parkot's mind. She decided to purchase a car trunkload of groceries and drove to her daughter's residence.
Together, Parkot and her daughter caught up with the woman at the restaurant and the trio headed to her home.
The woman couldn't contain her excitement. She called home and asked her children to guess what she was bringing them that they had been asking for.
"Food!" was the happy reply.
"How many kids would respond to this question with that answer?" Parkot asked the crowd. "I don't have a lot of money, but I have some. Thanksgiving is so different when you experience the giving."
For more than 10 years, the associates and staff at St. Joseph Hospital have collected food and assembled them in baskets to be distributed to needy families by volunteers from area churches.
"This has become a Thanksgiving tradition at St. Joseph Hospital," Parkot said. "Each year I am touched by the generosity of our associates, physicians and all those who step forward to help."
Before the group assembled for the noon blessing, Mission Assistant Charlene Nikiel noted that the number of baskets has grown since the program began.
This year the group had a goal of 51 baskets consisting of turkey and all of the traditional trimmings, from stuffing, sweet potatoes, and corn to cranberry sauce and pumpkin pies. They received commitments for 55 baskets.
"We got 63," Nikiel said. "It's great. We're able to give more."
Parkot noted that the associates and staff at St. Joseph don't often know the families who will receive the baskets. However, they are blessed with the knowledge that the recipients will sit down to a special Thanksgiving meal because of the generosity of the hospital's associates.
One hospital staff member, Carol Burr, a physical therapist, understands firsthand the importance of giving. When she was young, her family often received assistance from the Salvation Army.
"Now I can celebrate Thanksgiving," Burr said. "I don't feel right until this event. This is the true meaning of holidays."
When it was his turn to speak, St. Joseph Hospital President James Millard simply stated, "Deb said it all."
Contributions for the baskets came from all hospital departments. The medical staff, Foundation Board and Associate Relations Committee contributed funds to purchase a turkey for each family. Staff from the other departments donated the trimmings.
"This is my favorite project at St. Joe's," Parkot told the group. "I hate to see anybody in Western New York go hungry."
Following Sister Maureen's blessing and a prayer, the inspired volunteers collected the baskets to distribute to the needy of the community.
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