HEALTH FIRST CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER PAULA JUST holds up a makeup set while shopping at the 10th annual Magic of Christmas Toy Drive at Walmart December 6. Each year the health system partners with the South Brevard Sharing Center and Brevard Family Promise to bring a little more cheer to the holiday for Brevard families who need it.
It was the 10th Magic of Christmas Toy Drive, a seasonal partnership between Brevard County’s leading health system and the South Brevard Sharing Center and Brevard Family Promise. The following day Health First associates the Target supercenter in Melbourne and gathered more.
“I’m proud of HF, and this morning just validated why I work for Health First,” said Natasha White, IT Business Systems Analyst. “I have one son, and all year, he has more than enough. I know there are kids who have a whole lot less. When you have so much, why not, during the holidays, give back? That’s the whole purpose of the holidays.”
“We say that wellness starts with ‘we’ – we embody that through the ways we can give back,” said Paula Just, Chief Experience Officer at Health First. “It’s heartwarming to know that we can bless the lives of the people that we serve in our community. A spirit of giving is part of wellness.”
Chris Stagman, Community Relations and Development Director at the South Brevard Sharing Center, said services – requests for food, clothing, rental assistance and more – were up nearly 50% last quarter.
“These are working parents and they need just a little help, and this just brings a little of that magic of Christmas spirit. We’re so appreciative of Health First – Health First comes through every year for the community at Christmas time.”
WATCH Florida Today's report, HEALTH FIRST MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE HELPS OVER 100 CHILDREN.
SEE Florida Today's photo gallery: HEALTH FIRST MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE AT VIERA WALMART.
READ Hometown News' story here: HEALTH FIRST 'SPIRIT OF GIVING' SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHEER.