{"id":72030,"date":"2021-10-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2021\/10\/19\/adopt-a-family-in-need\/"},"modified":"2021-10-19T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T05:00:00","slug":"adopt-a-family-in-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2021\/10\/19\/adopt-a-family-in-need\/","title":{"rendered":"Adopt a family in need"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the past 12 years, the Nebraska Medicine Social Work Department has coordinated the Holiday Adopt a Family Program. Last year, departments helped us spread holiday joy to 84 patients and their families.<\/p>\n

Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the community and health care system, the department will once again modify the program to meet the most need while respecting social distancing and visitor policy guidelines. Again this year, the program will offer a gift card only option. This will allow patients\/families to purchase gifts of their choice for their children as well as ensure ease in distributing the holiday cheer.<\/p>\n

If your department would like to support a patient\/family in need, complete this form<\/a> by Tuesday, Nov. 2.<\/p>\n

The social work department is currently working to identify patients\/families in need and will continue to do so right up to the holiday. After they receive your department’s gift cards, they will contact you with a description of the patient\/families you supported, including their plans on how they will use the gift cards to celebrate the holidays. This is a slight change from last year as the family information will not be provided first. <\/i><\/p>\n

"We know many departments prefer to purchase gifts instead of gift cards and we hope to be able to return to gift giving in the years to come, but for now, please know that your support of purchasing gift cards is not any less impactful, as for many it is their whole holiday celebration," said Rachele Sledge, supervisor, social work department. "We hope you will continue to support the holiday adopt program this year."<\/p>\n

All donations will come directly to the Social Work office, University Tower, Room 2404 (specifically to Cynthia Valeika). <\/p>\n

To ease the process:<\/p>\n