Santa visits patients at Grenada's Crisis Intervention Center

A.J. Minga stepped out of his role as Grenada County supervisor and put on a red suit and a beard to deliver gifts to patients at Mississippi State Hospital’s Jack Gordon and Robert G. “Bunky” Huggins Crisis Intervention Center in Grenada. Minga presented each patient with a personalized gift bag on Dec. 21.

Santa Day is an annual event that began several years ago at Mississippi State Hospital’s Whitfield campus. The tradition spread to Grenada after the hospital opened the crisis intervention center in Cleveland last year.

People form all over the state donate gifts and volunteer their time to make sure each of the more than 1,100 people in Mississippi State Hospital’s care enjoy a merry Christmas.

“These Santa Day gifts were generously given to us from people all over Mississippi, including several whose homes were flooded or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina,” said James G. Chastain, MSH director. “It is humbling to see people who have lost so much care enough to give so much, to put their own needs and troubles aside to make sure our patients receive gifts for Christmas.”

Although December is the busiest month, the hospital accepts donations and encourage volunteer activities throughout the year. To learn more, contact the volunteer services office at (601) 351-8377.