GLOVERSVILLE, NY – Knowing that a child will receive a much-desired gift on Christmas morning is an important tradition for the Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home staff. Thanks to their staff’s efforts, local children will receive gifts from their Christmas lists. For twenty-nine years, Littauer has partnered with the Mental Health Association of Fulton and Montgomery Counties (MHA) for the Gingerbread Project to bring Christmas smiles to children’s faces. Since 1994, Littauer employees have annually shopped for and wrapped hundreds of presents for children in need, a process that brings the “greatest feeling” to the Littauer elves. Each year, MHA delivers a list of children’s names and their Christmas lists to Nathan Littauer, Development Coordinator Kelly Colby. Gingerbread figure lists for each child are hung in the hospital café, collected by staff, and returned with carefully prepared packages.

“We are always incredibly amazed at the generosity of the staff and volunteers of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home,” says Mental Health Association in Fulton and Montgomery Counties Executive Director Janine Dykeman. “Each year, it seems like they outdo themselves with their support of the children and families we serve through the Mental Health Association. We know firsthand that these children would not have gifts to open on Christmas without the Gingerbread Project. You can see the relief, the emotion, and the gratitude on these parents’ faces when we provide these gifts to them for their children. It truly embraces the true meaning of this holiday season. I am a firm believer that we all have time, talents, or treasures that we can share with our community. I cannot thank the hospital system enough for its investment in this incredible cause. However, I must thank Kelly Colby, who organizes this each year for the children of our community. She is truly an unsung hero in this endeavor.”

“It always gives us a great feeling around the holidays,” says Colby. “For people to make such generous donations to the children – it fills you with the holiday spirit. This was yet again, an extraordinary year. We could barely move in the office. I always liken it to Santa’s workshop.”

Nathan Littauer Hospital employees, time and time again, show the true meaning of Christmas. Nathan Littauer thanks all who participated in the Gingerbread Project. These acts of kindness make Christmas memorable for so many in our community.

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About Nathan Littauer

Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is a full-service, 74 bed acute care hospital with an 84 bed skilled nursing home. Since 1894, Nathan Littauer has provided safe, high-quality health and wellness services with a focus on securing appropriate new technologies for people residing in Upstate New York. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services in order to offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve.  More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.