Volunteers boost hospital's Christmas spirit

Volunteers, from left, were: Nancy Sobien, JoAnn Reyes (Acute Care HUC Supervisor), Bobbi Bergh, Laurice Bentz, Nadine Roberts, Bea Compton, Carolyn Lattin and RoseAnn Tagg.

The Elmore Medical Center front lobby has a new Christmas tree this year, thanks to the Friends & Neighbors of Mountain Home, a local community service group.

The group provided the tree and decorations to bring holiday cheer to hospital visitors.

The group also made Christmas stockings for the newborn babies delivered at Elmore Medical Center during the holiday season. The oversized stockings are large enough to snuggle the babies inside for a holiday photo and as a keepsake for the family.

Adding to the ornaments on the tree are Giving Tree tags provided by the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce. The tags represent needy people in the community who, without assistance from the Giving Tree program, may not have a gift for Christmas.

"Friends & Neighbors of Mountain Home is a grassroots community group formed out of a shared desire to volunteer and help out where needed in the community," remarked one of the group's organizers, Laurice Bentz. "We wanted to do something nice for the hospital and helping with the decorations was something we could have fun doing."

Representatives of the group who participated in the tree trimming and delivered the baby stockings are" Nancy Sobien, Carolyn Lattin, Bea Compton, Bobbi Bergh, Nadine Roberts, Laurice Bentz and RoseAnn Tagg.

For more information about the Friends and Neighbors of Mountain Home contact Bentz at 587-3122. To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Elmore Medical Center, contact Mary Jo at 587-8401 ext. 187 or email carantom@slrmc.org.