Find a message from Volunteer Services Director, Tina T. Kincaid. a list ways you can get involved, and a downloadable version of this year's brochure below.
Dear Friends,
Volunteer Services at Western State Hospital strives to improve patients’ quality of life, especially during the holidays. We try to make Christmas a time where they feel cared for and loved.
As the holidays approach, I ask you to remember our patients by giving to Operation Santa, our annual donation drive. Your support will help us create magical and joyous moments for those who are often forgotten.
Many of our patients are ostracized from family or friends and just the thought of Christmas may bring up not so happy memories of Christmas’ past. For many, there is little Christmas cheer.
Several of you have helped us in the past and we appreciate all you have done to make our patients holiday brighter. If you have not donated before, please consider making a donation to our donation drive. When you support Operation Santa, you will come to understand how rewarding it feels to share the holiday joy with others who may not have the privilege otherwise.
Helping WSH patients can be something that you do either as an individual or as a family / group to spread some Christmas cheer to others. I have listed items on this brochure that you are welcome to donate. Of course, cash donations are also welcome and will help us purchase Christmas items and other much-needed items throughout the upcoming year. Donations will be accepted for Operation Santa until December 7th and Santa will deliver your gifts to our patients on December 25th.
Volunteer Services receives no Government funding. We rely entirely on donations to bring Christmas to WSH patients, this is why your support is so important! The quality of our patients’ lives will be enriched by your generosity and caring Spirit. Please consider helping to share a little Christmas cheer!
Thank you so much,
Tina T. Kincaid
Volunteer Services Director
540-332-8595 or tina.kincaid@dbhds.virginia.gov
There are three different ways you can help Operation Santa this year: monetary donation, gift donation, and sponsor-a-patient. Read more about each of these options below.
Monetary donations go directly to the purchase of patient gifts. Donations in any amount are extremely helpful. Make checks payable to WSH Volunteer Services.
Gifts that you collect or purchase should be new, un-wrapped, and cannot contain any glass or metal. Gift donations may be dropped-off at one of our drop-off locations below by December 7 or call 540-332-8595 for assistance. For a complete list of appropriate gift selections, scroll further down on this page.
Participating drop-off locations:
Sponsor a patient by giving four times from the list to a specific patient. This plan gives you the opportunity to personalize your gifts for our patients. Sponsor a patient or two by calling 540-332-8595.
WSH accepts used clothing and shoe donations all year long for the hospital's clothing store. All items in the store are available, as needed, free of charge for WSH patients. Please consider conducting a clothing drive or donating your own used clothing items to WSH.