MUNCY – It’s a fun endeavor to keep Christmas alive for everyone, as all of the patients and staff at Twin Hills Health Center contribute to several rewarding and charitable projects right up until December 23.

One of the first parts of their campaign for Christmas giving came on Friday, December 18 when staff members from Families United Network came to Twin Hills Health Center to collect gifts for 39 foster children at their agency this year.

Forty ornaments with names and ages of children were hung on a live tree festively decorated with lights and surrounded by gift baskets at Twin Hills Health Center.

Starting on December 3, staff and customers had the choice of taking an ornament from the tree which had suggestions on the back of what that child wanted for Christmas. The gift was brought to Twin Hills Health Center unwrapped and placed under the tree.

Headquartered in Muncy, Families United Network has five offices throughout Pennsylvania. They are a residential foster care and adoption service agency for children from birth to age 18. “We help children to return home, or find them a permanent home,” said Kristi Hoover, office supervisor for the Montoursville location. “We currently have 300 children this year throughout our facilities,” she added.

As a reward for patients at Twin Hills Health Center for continuing their hard work of physical therapy and keeping their appointments, they were able to get a chance to win a gift basket donated to the health center by local businesses. If a patient keeps his or her appointments and brings in a non perishable food item, they could enter to win by placing several tickets into the drawing basket. “Each year businesses donate wonderful items for us to give back to our customers, and this gives them a chance to contribute towards our charity campaigns,” according to Bonnie M. Tompkins, Business Manager. “And they are rewarded for good clinical progress.”

The canned food and other items will be donated to the Son Light House in Muncy. A lot of the food will be used for the 25th annual ‘A Spirit of Christmas Day Dinner’ for those who need a place to enjoy a meal on Christmas Day. They will be collecting food right up until New Year’s.

“We also like to give back to our customers, and this gives us a way to do it. They enjoy getting a chance to win a basket.”

Last month they were able to give away sixteen turkeys from Lowes in Clarkstown. For every new referral that a patient brought in, Twin Hills donated a turkey to the Son Light House. Relay for Life is another charity that they like to help raise funds for during the year.