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Heyman Hospice Care Renews Thanksgiving Tradition
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Heyman Hospice Care Renews Thanksgiving Tradition

11.23.2022

Staff and Volunteers Provide 102 Meals

ROME, Ga., Nov. 23, 2022 For the first time since 2019, volunteers and staff at Heyman Hospice Care at Atrium Health Floyd gathered again Wednesday to continue their tradition of service and gratitude as they prepared Thanksgiving meals for patients and families.

The annual event was postponed in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19 concerns. But on Wednesday the crowded Activity Room at Heyman Hospice Care was a beehive of activity where to-go boxes were packed with traditional Thanksgiving Day offerings.

The food, made by volunteers and staff members, included turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, green beans, potato salad and corn. Desserts included pound cake, pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie and pecan pie.

The food boxes were filled and then delivered to patients and family members served by Heyman Hospice Care.

“Preparing Thanksgiving meals for our hospice families has been a tradition since 2004," said Casey Blankenship, program director for Heyman Hospice Care. “COVID paused this for the past two years. This year we were excited to be able to come together and continue our tradition. This is a time for  our team to fellowship and continue to care for our community. Although it was a very busy morning, there was lots of laughter and friendship shared. This is our way to care for the spirit of those we serve as well as our team."

The restaurant-like atmosphere was punctuated with cries of “I need some more dressing" and “I'm not trying to be bossy, y'all." The final count was 102 meals prepared.

David Ragan, who lives in Silver Creek, was one of the volunteers who gave of his time to help in the assembly line. His wife, Sondra, is a registered nurse with the organization.

“This was my first time doing it," Ragan said. “I like to help out when I can."

Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Heyman Hospice Care provides home-based compassionate, comfort-oriented care to patients with a life expectancy of less than six months, serving patients who live in Floyd, Chattooga, Polk, Bartow and Gordon counties.

Staff and volunteers support patients and families with medical care, respite care and social services to reduce stress and improve quality of life. Hospice also offers grief support to help families who have experienced a loss.

​About Atrium Health Floyd
Since 1942, Floyd, now Atrium Health Floyd, has worked to provide affordable, accessible care in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Today, Atrium Health Floyd is a leading medical provider and economic force. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation's leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. At the hub of these services is Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center, a 304-bed full-service, acute care hospital and regional referral center. Atrium Health Floyd employs more than 3,400 teammates who provide care in over 40 medical specialties at three hospitals: Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Georgia; Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Alabama; Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Georgia, as well as Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health, a freestanding 53-bed behavioral health facility, also in Rome; and a primary care and urgent care network with locations throughout the service area of northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama.​


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