Spirit of giving

By Staff
RHC sponsors Christmas party
Melissa Cason
The residents at Russellville Health Care received a visit from the jolly ole elf this week as the center celebrated Christmas with the residents and their families.
Activities Director Kay Landrum said the center has fundraisers through out the year to fund the annual Christmas party, which includes plenty of of food and a visit from Santa.
"We have bake sales, and I sell Avon through the year and the money raised goes for the Christmas party," Landrum said.
She said the staff does the baking and the buying at the bake sales and that the staff is mostly who buy the Avon all through the year.
"It's a team effort," Landrum said. "The staff works together to be able to do the Christmas party and gifts for the residents."
In addition to holding the party for the residents and their families, each resident receives two Christmas gifts every year.
"Usually we get each resident an outfit and something small like a cologne or perfume set," Landrum said. "This year they got an outfit, a fashion pin and lotion."
Landrum and her sister, Dietary Manager Lisa Tidwell, do the shopping for the residents every year. Landrum admits it's a job shopping for 50 residents every year.
"We shop 'til we drop," Landrum said. "This year it took us two days of shopping to get it done."
Once the shopping is done, then it's time for wrapping.
"All the department heads get together for that part, but I admit we usually use gift bags," Landrum said.
She said all the work is worth it every year when the residents have a smile on their faces during the Christmas party.
She said that on Christmas Day a lot of the families will come in to see their loved one, and the center has different activities scheduled for the day since a lot of the staff are off on Christmas.
"We might show them a special movie or something like that," Landrum said. "We try to make sure they have good day."