Press Release

Burgess Employees Care for Community

It’s been another busy year of caring for others for the Burgess People Care committee of Burgess Health Center which has again adopted several families for the holidays.

For the Adopt-a-Family project, Burgess employees donate items from the families’ wish list and department lists. Members of the Burgess care team then wrap and sort the gifts according to each family and deliver them to a designated location.

“Burgess employees provide toys and clothing to our families as well as additional gifts and food items,” says Jamie Fister, chairperson of the hospital care team who works in Burgess Home Health/Hospice. “We’re proud of the giving spirit of our employees.”

The committee also creates goodie trays for employees on sick or family leave over Christmas, sponsors a “Secret Santa” gift exchange and holds a gift drawing for a Burgess employee, Jamie adds.

“We enjoy working together to do things for others, whether it is baking for an employee party or getting gifts together for the families we adopt at Christmastime,” says Fister. “We personally care for people every day at Burgess and our clinics and feel it’s important to share additional compassion and care with area residents.”

Burgess People Care also contributes to local fundraisers in Onawa and area communities, she adds. Last spring the committee gave contributions to After-Prom Parties for Whiting, West Monona, Westwood, Lyons Decatur, Charter Oak-Ute and Maple Valley-Anthon Oto, the Decatur and Onawa Fire Departments, Ducks Unlimited, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Onawa Public Library and Monona County Fair.

The committee members also host cook-outs and presents welcome bags to new employees and yellow roses to co-workers who are hospitalized or have had a baby or a death in the family. They hold an annual Easter Egg Hunt for employees’ families and sponsor other activities for employees.

The committee of some 10 employees voluntarily meets regularly at Burgess to administer the fund and decide on donations by majority vote. All Burgess employees who contribute are welcome to participate.
To learn more about the Burgess People Care program call Fister at 423-9184.