Iron Mountain VA Medical Center spreads holiday cheer to local families

The OGJVAMC's Patient Administrative Services (PAS) is one of the services that participated in this year’s Adopt-a-Family Program. Some of the staff representing the team pose with the gifts for the team’s adopted family.

By Megan Barglind-Rodman, Public Affairs Specialist

January 5, 2026

For nearly three decades, employees from the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan, have made holidays brighter for local families in need.

This year, staff adopted 24 families through their “Adopt a Family” program.

For 28 years, employees at the OGJVAMC have come together to provide toys, gifts, clothing and gift cards for local families in need.

Fifteen VA departments adopted one or more families, with employees purchasing gifts based on the wish list of each family member.

"Coordinating the Adopt-a-Family event over the past three years has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Each year, I’ve seen firsthand how our departments come together to support local families with compassion and generosity. It’s inspiring to see how much heart our team puts into making the holidays brighter for others, and I’m proud to be part of such a caring organization," said Kalee Cayemberg, this year’s coordinator.

Gifts were delivered to the schools before Christmas break and were distributed to the families. The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center has sponsored the holiday season Adopt-a-Family program since 1996, providing gifts to 231 local families total.

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