The hospitals we work with never cease to impress us — especially their creativity and generosity of spirit during the holidays. Each year we hear about the wonderful things our clients do for staff and the community during the holidays. This week, we want to share some of those stories, and a little holiday spirit, with you.
Dancing for your health
Columbia St. Mary's employees prepare to dance their way through the Grafton Christmas parade.
Each year, thousands of people stand outside in the chilly Wisconsin winter to watch the Grafton Christmas parade.
And for the last few years, these eager spectators have seen something they might not expect.
Dressed in scrubs, santa hats and sunglasses, a drill team made up of Columbia St. Mary’s employees dances down the parade route. This year, they made seven stops along the route, keeping themselves warm with a choreographed dance to Brian Setzer Orchestra’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”
“We started it a couple of years ago to shake things up,” says Amy Gehrke with the Columbia St. Mary’s marketing department. “Everyone loves it. People ask, ‘Is the drill team coming back this year?’”
Composed of nursing staff, clerical staff and more, this drill team starts practices in November to hone their routine. During the parade, two mini- Macy’s-style heart balloons accompany their float. Doctors throw Frisbees to the crowd as they go.
And for those Milwaukee folk who might have missed this creative display? The routine can be found on Public Access TV.
A living nativity
Nativities adorn the mantelpieces in many people’s homes during the holiday season. But, it’s not often that someone gets to see the nativity scene come alive before their eyes.
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana makes this happen each year in December. Their “mantel” is simply the land in front of the OLOL chapel. And the actors? Hospital staff volunteer to play the roles of shepherds, wise men and Mary and Joeseph.
Every 15 minutes during the day, they re-enact the nativity scene for people from the community to enjoy. And, there’s no skimping on the details. Live animals are brought in, which visitors can pet during the event. The OLOL choir adds beautiful music to the mix, making the experience a memorable one for the community and staff alike.
