A spirit of joy and giving will be evident at Mississippi State Hospital (MSH) next month with several special events and programs scheduled to celebrate the holiday season.
The 2007 MSH Christmas parade begins at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14 on the hospital’s Whitfield campus. The parade, which travels a 2-mile long route across the campus, will feature several local high school marching bands, floats, horses, antique cars and Santa Claus.
This year’s grand marshal is Gale Martin, executive director of the Rankin County Chamber of Commerce. The theme for the 2007 parade is “The Faces of Christmas.”
In addition to the parade, the hospital’s Volunteer Services division has begun scheduling Christmas parties for MSH patients and Jaquith Nursing Home residents.
“Our hospital is so fortunate to have churches, schools, and other civic groups and organizations who take the time to come and spread Christmas cheer among the individuals we serve,” said Sheila Shows, Volunteer Services manager. “The food, the gifts, the singing, the story telling and the fellowship really help make Christmas brighter for our patients and residents.”
Another exciting part of MSH’s Christmas activities is Santa Day, which will be held Dec. 21. On that day, each of the 1,600 patients, clients and residents served on the Whitfield campus, in the community services program in Jackson, and at the Crisis Intervention Centers in Brookhaven, Cleveland and Grenada will receive a gift bag containing clothes, personal items, fruit and candy. The bags are hand-delivered by civic, business and other community leaders who dress up as Santa Claus and make their rounds to patient and resident buildings and other facilities.
“The patients and residents are always excited to see Santa Claus coming with a bag full of goodies,” said MSH Director James G. Chastain. “For some of them, that’s the only Christmas present they will receive.”
Shows said the hospital is able to provide gifts because of the generosity of groups and individuals.
“As a state-operated facility, we cannot use general funds to purchase Christmas gifts or to host parties,” she said. “Therefore, we rely on people from all across the state, and even the nation, to provide our patients and residents with a memorable Christmas.
“We thank those who have volunteered year after year, whether by hosting a party, serving as a Santa, or writing a check,” Shows said. “Without our volunteers, a lot of our patients would not experience the joy and excitement of the holiday season.”
Shows said it is not easy to serve 1,600 patients and residents using only donated items.
“We are able to do a lot, but there is much more we could do if we had the funds,” she said. “That’s why we are encouraging more people to get involved by helping us help those who are less fortunate.” Members of the public who want to help can donate new clothing items, personal care items, or even books, games, puzzles, or art supplies to the MSH Christmas House, which will open Dec. 1 in Building 71 on the Whitfield campus. Individuals can also give monetary donation by making checks payable to Mississippi State Hospital. The checks can be mailed to MSH Volunteer Services, P.O. Box 75, Whitfield, MS 39193. For more information on donation opportunities or to host a party, call Shows at (601) 351-8377.