POUGHKEEPSIE – Santa Claus and his entourage of carolers from St. Peter’s School in Hyde Park visited the atrium at MidHudson Regional Hospital this week to “help put us in the holiday spirit,” according to Jolene Frye, associate executive director of Operations for the hospital.
Christmas cheer in the atrium
Poughkeepsie’s John Flowers started the caroling hospital visits with Santa about 15 years ago, his son Frankie said.
When the elder Flowers passed away, the tradition was continued by Frankie and his sister Yvonne. According to Frankie, Santa and the carolers used to travel throughout the hospital singing and delivering gifts but that changed when newer HIPAA regulations went into place so the event now takes place in the hospital’s atrium.
Carolers sing while Santa hands out gifts to arriving and departing patients and visitors.
The John Flowers Community Foundation adopts numerous families each year that, said Frankie.
“Now we started doing the John Flowers Christmas Wish. We bring presents right to their homes so we kind of adopt the children whose parents cannot get them any Christmas presents.”
This year, the MidHudson Regional Hospital employees adopted nine families
that were on the list of those in need.
Flowers said the various departments within the hospital went “above and beyond in buying gifts for the adopted families,” as he pointed to the lobby full of giftwrapped toys under the Christmas tree. Flowers will pick up the toys and arrange for the deliveries in time for Christmas.
