For the staff of Waldon Family Medicine on Baldwin Road, the brightest part of the holidays isn’t the gifts they received, it’s the ones they give away to some of their patients.
Dr. Cynthia Glasson came up with the idea to hold a Christmas party for some of their patients in need three years ago, and the tradition has been going strong every since. Each year the staff adopts a patient family, chosen by Dr. Glasson, and purchases gifts for everyone in the family. The gifts this year will be opened on Dec. 23, at a special catered party at the Waldon Family Medicine office.
“Dr. Glasson got the idea because of a patient she was talking to,” said Angie LaFontaine of Waldon Family Medicine. “We let the families know ahead of time so we can get sizes and have them draw up a wish list. Most of the time it’s a family with small children.”
The list is posted so everyone in the office can choose what they want to buy, according to Laura McCallum, also of Waldon Family Medicine.
“I usually buy a toy and outfit for each child,” said McCallum. “The list went up one night and the next day it was already full…everyone signed up.”
“Everyone’s always pretty enthusiastic,” added LaFontaine.
Dr. Glasson said she hopes hearing about their idea will spark other businesses to get involved in a similar project.
“It’s a great thing to do,” she said.