Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital employees donated $31,500 in presents, toys and gift cards to area families in need of assistance during the hospital’s annual Christmas Giving Festival. Emory Saint Joseph’s sponsored a total of 63 families ranging in size of two people to eight or more. This year, employees at Emory John’s Creek Hospital also participated in the Festival.

For several decades, the Christmas Giving Festival has embodied the mission and values of Emory Saint Joseph’s, which include caring for the poor, vulnerable and those needing assistance. Hospital departments and units once again came together to help local families facing challenging times during the holiday season.

"Each year we partner with Mercy Care to adopt families that are experiencing financial hardships and need assistance to ensure their family has a joyful Christmas," says Emory Saint Joseph's CEO Heather Dexter. Not only do we adopt clients of Mercy Care, we also adopt our own team members and their families if they have experienced a tragedy in their lives this year and need help.”

Mercy Care is a non-profit organization that provides primary medical care for the homeless and underserved. Mercy Care was founded after teams of Saint Joseph’s doctors, nurses and staff began providing medical care on the streets, in homeless shelters and in soup kitchens.