RICHLAND CENTER, WI – Shortly after the tags went on the Holiday Hope Tree in the cafeteria at The Richland Hospital and Clinics they started disappearing. Requests from area school districts were quickly met by staff and volunteers. Soon, the gifts started coming back – brightly papered, in all shapes and sizes, with the appropriate gift tag affixed on top.

“It takes a village to make this happen and we have the best working here,” says Ashley Klingaman, registered nurse. Yes, it does take a village, and thankfully this project had two strong mayors in Klingaman and Sarah Stibbe, administrative assistant and volunteer coordinator. The two, along with people like Dwight Allbaugh, courier, who helped make deliveries to the schools, and Megan Ryan, administrative assistant, who helped organize gifts by groups, created a proverbial Santa’s Village. In total, just shy of 150 tags were filled and nearly 20 meal gifts assembled, up from last year’s impressive 120 tags total.

“I wish I could say this visual example of our team’s generosity surprised me, but that’s just not the case,” says President/CEO Bruce Roesler. “It is simply a reflection of the culture here – to see a need and lend a hand.” During Stibbe’s three years working on this project, this year’s drive, both from a need and response perspective, prompted reflection. “I’m so glad people are willing to accept a hand. So many people want to help and giving them a way to do just that benefits everyone,” she says. “This really is the spirit of the season.”

The Richland Hospital and Clinics’ Holiday Hope Tree supported families in Ithaca, Kickapoo, Richland Center, Riverdale, and River Valley school districts.