Have you noticed that something a little magical happens to health care workers at this time of year? They turn into Santa's helpers.

'Tis the season for collecting canned goods and toys, holiday parties at health clinics, stuffing stockings for preemies, decking the halls and filling work-

BARRY WILLIAMS/Special (ENLARGE)

Martin Hurwitz (from left), Shari Creech, Philip Detore and Mattie Williams, members of the facilities management team at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, get in the holiday spirit.

stations with treats. Besides giving care, these folks know how to share the spirit of the season with their patients, patients' families and communities.

On Nov. 17, members of the Georgia Baptist Association of Nursing Students (GBANS) served a traditional Thanksgiving feast to the 200 residents of Welcome House, a shelter for homeless and low-income people in downtown Atlanta.

"We've been doing this for at least five years," said Dawn Fletcher, the community service director for GBANS and a junior at the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing at Mercer University.

In the spirit of "the more the merrier," Fletcher asked students to talk to their families, neighbors, faculty members, churches and local grocery stores to get more people involved in the project this year.

"It was a real grassroots effort, and we had an outpouring of donations and volunteers to help us cook and serve," she said. "The faculty is always supportive of our efforts. Everyone gets involved in community service around here."

In December, the students are filling boxes for soldiers who are serving overseas and serving food at a soup kitchen.

Meanwhile, Emory Healthcare employees were busy planning for annual holiday lighting celebrations held at the organization's three hospitals right after Thanksgiving.

"We've done this at Emory Crawford Long Hospital since 1998," said David Pugh, associate director for administration at Emory Healthcare. "The first year, someone had the idea of moving some of the cars in the parking lot, lighting a tree and singing some songs. Now it's a bigger production, and we invite the whole community."

There are the lighting of a huge tree on top of the hospital's parking deck; games and activities for children; a performance by the DeKalb Choral Guild; cider, hot chocolate and goodies prepared by the food service staff; fireworks; and visits with Santa.

"At 6:30, we had a countdown and let kids throw the switch, which sets off line rockets up to the tree," Pugh said.

Santa arrived by carriage and met children in his workshop. Patients watched the festivities from rooms overlooking the site, and some came down in wheelchairs.

One year, Pugh had the cool idea of creating the illusion that Santa had arrived by helicopter. The plan was to combine a hovering helicopter, an announcement over the loudspeaker about a special delivery for the boys and girls, a poof of smoke and Santa waving from the top of the building.

"Air traffic held the helicopter up, so it was almost a logistics nightmare. We had to keep singing carols until it came screaming across the city," he said. "We've had Santa come by firetruck, too, but if there's one emergency call, they're gone. We've decided that a horse-drawn carriage is a safer way to control Santa's destiny."

At Emory Crawford Long, Santa is played by former hospital director of environmental services Billy Morton, now retired, and the elves are hospital workers.

"Our whole staff gets involved with this event, and we're all like big kids. It's a great morale booster," Pugh said.

He scouts fireworks shows throughout the year to get ideas for the next holiday display. "Most of the year I'm overseeing construction and security for the hospital, so this is my fun stuff. I love doing this," Pugh said.

See what I mean by Santa's helpers? Bet you know some, too. The best of the season to you all!

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