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Home Health VNA Patients
Recipients of Christmas Joy




Lawrence and North Andover, Mass. – The spirit of Christmas arrived in mass quantity during Merrimack College’s Annual Christmas Reception on Thursday, November 30th.  Guests of the event were encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped children’s gift to the event, with all of the presents being donated to the patients and families of Home Health VNA’s home care services.  Alumni, Friends of Merrimack and members of the Parent’s Council donated hundreds of gifts to the agency’s youngest and frailest patients.

“It was a real outpouring of love, and I was proud of our community,” said Nancy Sardella, Director of Alumni Relations at Merrimack College.  “All of our programming has a community service component, that is what Merrimack is all about.  It was amazing to see how the piles of presents grew underneath the tree as the night continued.”

Pat Palermo, Vice President of External Relations at Home Health VNA, was equally impressed.

“This is just wonderful,” exclaimed Palermo, who is busy organizing the gift distribution with clinicians at the agency.  “There are so many children on our service whose families are struggling to make ends meet during the holidays, let alone putting gifts under the tree. 

“These gifts are going to make for a very bright Christmas for families who may have otherwise had a bleak holiday.  The generosity of Merrimack College’s alumni, friends and parents is truly amazing.”

There was a little bit of everything under the tree at Merrimack College’s Sakowich Campus Center.  Bright colored toys, huggable plush friends and even a pair of handmade dolls will be making their way into the homes of children throughout the Merrimack Valley this Christmas morning.

“We have so many children in our program who are struggling with illness and trying to keep a positive outlook,” said Emily Raymond, a nurse with Home Health VNA’s Maternal & Child Health program.  “As a nurse, it is so rewarding to be able to bring this happiness into the home of a family that has been coping with the strain of a chronically ill child.  These families are truly grateful for this expression of kindness.”

Home Health VNA is a not-for-profit agency dedicated to serving the home care needs of patients of all ages.  Most recently, Out-come Concept Systems (OCS) named Home Health VNA among the top 5% of home health care agencies in the United States.  Home Health VNA is certified by the Joint Commission of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and is affiliated with Merrimack Valley Hospice and HomeCare, Inc.
 

Together, the three agencies serve more than 80 communities throughout the Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire from their offices in Lawrence, Chelmsford, Peabody, Haverhill and Newburyport.  Visit them on the web at www.homehealthvna.org.

 



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The December, 2006 Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly Publication.
All Contents (C) 2006
, Valley Patriot, Inc.
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