The SIUE School of Nursing WE CARE Clinic staff adopted 56 children, ages 18-months to 5-years, at the SIUE Discovery Center Head Start/Early Head Start on Tuesday, Dec. 19 for Christmas.
Staff members Megan DeGroot, Kate Simons, Jerri Parker and Ellen Levey along with providers Dr. Linda Omondi, FNP, and Dr. Kim White, PHCNS-BC dressed as elves, while Marcus Minnis (SIUE public health BS, 2017) grayed his beard to play Santa. Each child had a chance to meet Santa and receive a gift of mittens, a coloring book, crayons, a stuffed animal and a candy cane.
“In past years, the WE CARE Clinic has adopted children belonging to clinic patients to receive Christmas gifts,” said Kim White, clinical associate professor and executive director of the WE CARE Clinic. “This year, we decided to try reaching out to more children.
“So, we contacted the Head Start program that is in our building. This is a way for us to give back to the community. By bringing Santa and his elves to see the children, we brought them some smiles, some warm mittens and a stuffed toy to cuddle with.”