The Light in a Child’s Eyes

It’s powerful enough to create an intoxicating “warm and fuzzy” feeling and lends to the good will of others that is often associated with this time of year. The rich taste of fresh hot chocolate and smell of peppermint candy canes and pine trigger happy memories of our own childhood. Christmas is only one of the gift-giving holidays during the month of December and if you are lucky enough, you may even find yourself playing the role of Saint Nicholas for the sole purpose of witnessing the sparkling faces of the children yourself.

VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS) has participated in the Angel Tree annual event for more than 20 years with Veterans Memorial STEM Academy, formerly known as Veterans Memorial Elementary. Angel Tree programs are a popular way to help those less fortunate. A traditional Angel Tree looks a lot like other Christmas trees, but instead of typical ornaments, it is decorated with nametags that bear gift requests from sponsored families.

Throughout the year at Veterans Memorial, children from struggling households are identified by teachers and the school counselor, Sussan Bowser. With permission from their parents, the students’ information is shared with the Chief of Community Affairs at VASNHCS, Stephanie Torian, and then the number of children needing sponsors is shared with all VASNHCS staff in November. The goal is to have all the children sponsored by individual staff and departments before December 15, at which time the gifts are collected and delivered to the school in preparation for the big reveal on December 17. This year, all 55 children were sponsored within the first week they were announced.

Stephanie had doubts about this year’s event. “I wasn’t sure how well-received the event would be this year with the pandemic rounding its second year and levels of tension, stress and unrest affecting the holiday spirit,” she said. “The staff were adamant on participating and providing a happy Christmas for these kids.” She adds, with a twinkle in her eye, “It’s enough to make even my heart smile, and I’m the original Grinch!” (For the record, she really isn’t the Grinch. She’s not green.)

In the early years of the partnership, children visited the hospital campus to accept their presents. Then, prior to COVID-19, staff started delivering the gifts to the school and watched the kids open them. It truly was the gift of giving and receiving. The biggest obstacle this year has been the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, which prevented staff from being at the event in person. That didn’t stop the Community Affairs office from overflowing with brightly wrapped bundles of Christmas joy the morning of December 15, right on schedule.

How do you include the staff so they can witness the miracles of hope and joy in the tiny faces receiving their gifts? Virtually seems to be the logical answer. Across the hospital campus, smiles, laughter and even a tear or two were highlighted in the glow of cell phones as staff watched the children accept and unwrap their gifts through a live stream that was broadcast on VASNHCS’s social media platform.

“We had a hard time imagining how we were going to include all of the families and the staff at the hospital,” Sussan shared. “We are so thankful that everyone came together to be inclusive and put the children’s needs above their own.”

VASNHCS Executive Director Kevin Amick and members of the leadership team assisted with handing out the presents to each of the children this year.

“Toys engage a child’s senses and encourages them to interact with others in a positive way. We need more of that today. As an organization we strive to make a difference in the lives of our Veterans and their families every day. Today it is about making a difference in the lives of these children and I am honored to be a part of it,” says Mr. Amick.

In the words originally written in 1957 by Theodore Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, “Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.”