By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

Two programs at Columbus Regional HealthCare had their biggest year’s yet for donations and collections.

The Nursing Services Food Drive collected 3,100 pounds of food for the needy, and the Adopt-A-Child program brought together gifts for 120 area children.

Donations to the food drive went to The Help Mission, a local non-profit food bank.

“The nursing staff recognizes many people in the community must choose to buy medication or food,” stated Susan Hamilton, vice president of nursing services. “We hope this will help so they can have both.”

The food was about a six month supply for The Help Mission, according to Betty Holcomb, executive director of the charity. The Help Mission receives 99 percent of its support through local churches, and accepts monetary donations as well as household supplies, food, and even knick-knacks throughout the year. The supplies are then provided to families.

Members of the nursing staff helped load the food into vehicles provided by the engineering department, which delivered the goods to the Help Mission’s office in Whiteville.

The other program, Adopt-A-Child, is supported by the entire hospital staff. Doctors. nurses, administrators and volunteers adopted needy children from a list at the hospital, and set out to play Santa Claus.

More than 20 bikes will be distributed to area children, along with dolls, games, clothes and other items. Every wish on the list was granted, according to the hospital.

The Rev. Judy Powell coordinated the effort, which she called “overwhelming.

“Every year the staff at CRHS shows their love to the community this way,” Powell said.