by Pat Kramer

Reaching out to others can be healing for both the giver and the receiver. As a way of sharing hope and happiness with patients in need during the holiday season, 60 City of Hope departments are preparing gifts for this year’s Adopt-A-Family Program.

The Department of Clinical Social Work developed the Adopt-A-Family Program to share cheer with City of Hope patients and families. City of Hope departments that enroll in the program are matched with specific adult and pediatric patients, and members of each department contribute gifts and create their own unique ways to help the patients celebrate the season. Some gift recipients currently are receiving care at the medical center, while others are outpatients or patients who received treatment earlier in the year.

Departments enroll in the program in October and November. Although the program already is in place for this holiday season, the Department of Clinical Social Work still needs donations of phone cards, gas cards and gift certificates to supermarkets and retail stores such as Wal-Mart and Target for any patients who arrive at the Medical Center over the holidays.

To donate to the Adopt-A-Family Program, please contact Reina Martinez in Clinical Social Work at 626-256-4673, ext. 62282.