Baraboo, WI – SSM Health is proud to have donated $4,100 in toys, clothing, and grocery gift cards to the Sauk County Children’s Giving Tree holiday campaign helping more than 10 families.
The Sauk County Children's Giving Tree is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1985. It began as a project to provide Christmas gifts for a small group of teen parents and their young children. Over the years, the organization has grown from helping just a handful of children to aiding more than 675 children and 250 families at Christmas.
For more than 25 years and currently managed by Nursing Administrative Supervisor Katie Lands, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo has held an annual employee basket raffle to raise funds for the Sauk County Children’s Giving Tree.
Katie shared why this organization and event is so important to her and brings her so much joy to orchestrate, “Being able to do this raffle means so much to me. Many years ago, my husband, stepdaughter and I were the recipients of a giving tree. I will never forget the feeling I had when this pile of gifts was delivered. The gratitude I felt brought tears to my eyes. Every year after that, we made it a mission to support the giving tree wherever we were. This opportunity presented itself and I JUMPED at chance to be able to help in such a huge way. This project has brought me joy during some of the most difficult times in my life and gives me such fulfillment to be able to help others in a way my family was helped during hard times. I truly do feel like one of Santa's elves!”.
Departments within the hospital and clinics put together themed baskets to raffle off, putting them on display for employees to purchase raffle tickets. The drawing is always held on the first Friday in December.
Once funds are tallied, Katie shops for the requested items for the adopted families and brings a carload of toys, clothes, and food gift cards to the Sauk County Children’s Giving Tree to distribute.
If you are interested in donating or learning more, contact the Sauk County Giving Tree at (608) 963-3304 or go to their website saukcountychildrensgivingtree.org.
About SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo
SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through one of the largest integrated delivery systems in the nation.
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo is Sauk County’s largest hospital, serving the health care needs of residents in the greater Baraboo, Lake Delton, and Wisconsin Dells area. The 100-bed hospital provides radiation oncology, total joint replacement, women’s health services, and other specialty care. In 2018, St. Clare Hospital was certified by the Joint Commission for diabetes education and heart failure education.
