“Baskets of Cheer” from the Clinical Lab to the Community

To kick off the 2007 holiday season, the Clinical Laboratories at Brookdale Hospital once again began their labor of love by reaching out to those most in need.  The sense of community and spirit within the Brookdale Family has become a much awaited yearly tradition as baskets of non-perishable food items are assembled to be distributed to neighborhood families.  For the fourth consecutive year, several drop-off sites throughout the hospital were designated for staff donations for the “Baskets of Cheer” project and the response was even more overwhelming than past years.

  Yanick Gourdet from the Clinical Laboratory gathered her group to assemble the goods for delivery.  The group’s goal for this year was to collect sufficient food and money to surpass last year’s donation of 106 baskets.  Much to their surprise and pleasure, they were able to assemble 160 fully stocked holiday meal baskets including a $20 voucher for a turkey courtesy of the Key Food located on Church Avenue.

Off the group went to make deliveries:  40 baskets were delivered to East New York’s Community Board five, 40 to Brownsville’s Community Board 16, 47 to East Flatbush’s Community Board 17, 13 to Church of God of East Flatbush, 14 to Brookdale’s Family Care Centers and six went to needy families living around the hospital.   

“We are elated that what began as a Clinical Laboratory Department project has evolved into an annual Brookdale family tradition that officially kicks off the Holiday Season at the Hospital,” Ms. Gourdet said.