Highlights from the Holiday Season!

The holiday season at Carilion was filled with kindness, creativity and giving back to the community—here’s a look at how our teams have been spreading cheer.

Spreading Kindness and Giving Back

• The Provider Enrollment Team created 10 care kits for unhoused individuals, including snacks, personal care items, warm clothing and handwritten notes of encouragement.
• CFMH fulfilled a need by donating 16 patient beds to Red Oak Manor, an assisted living facility ensuring the beds were properly set up and staff was trained for resident safety and comfort.
• The Technology Services Group and Health Analytics teams filled 350 stockings with donated items, delivering them to Pediatric, Behavioral Health, and Infusion patients across multiple facilities.
• Family and Community Medicine’s first Angel Tree program successfully matched all 41 tags with gifts, thanks to employee generosity.
• CRBH Hospitalist Manager Amy Gilliam ensured patients spending Christmas away from their families received gifts on Christmas morning, demonstrating patient-centered care.
• A Hospice patient’s wish to experience Explore Park’s Illuminights was granted through collaboration between Hospice, Carilion Clinic Patient Transport and Roanoke County Parks and Recreation, creating cherished family memories.

Honoring Heroes

• Carilion Clinic Hospice continued its “We Honor Veterans” initiative with themed Christmas trees displayed across several locations, including the Hotel Roanoke and Rocky Mount Veterans’ Memorial Park.
• Franklin Hospice honored veterans by participating in the Rotary Club of Franklin County’s Christmas Parade with a festive float and candy handouts.

Festive Fun and Creativity

• Riverside 3 hosted its first Christmas Wreath Contest with seven handmade entries, recognizing winners for Most Humorous, Most Creative and Best Christmas Spirit.
• The Recognition Council held a gingerbread house decorating contest at CMC, awarding top prizes for creative designs like “Rosehill Cottage,” “Dr. Seuss on the Loose,” and “Fall Risk Chalet.”
• Brittany Moore from Carilion Outpatient Therapies at CNRV set up a hot chocolate bar, providing staff some festive stress relief during the busy season.
• Carilion Security Officer Newcomb added holiday fun by playfully apprehending a “grinchy” figure spotted at CRCH to protect the holiday decorations.
• The CNRV Inpatient Mental Health team participated in the CNRV hospital parade to spread cheer among patients receiving care during the holidays.
• Rheumatology shared warm holiday wishes for a happy season and New Year.
• Design & Construction, Safety & Emergency Management, Finance and Infection Control departments spread holiday cheer by decorating 11S Peds.

Gifts from the Heart

• The Radford University Men’s Basketball team donated stuffed animals from their Teddy Bear Toss event to pediatric patients at CNRV, providing comfort throughout the year.
• CVI Surgery PCU brightened patients’ Christmas mornings by gifting warm items, showing compassion during hospital stays.

Thank you to everyone who made this holiday season brighter—your kindness and creativity brought joy to patients, colleagues and the community!