The holidays mark a meaningful time of the year at Ascension — a season of giving that reflects the very heart of our Mission. Across the country, our markets identified local needs and mobilized teams to show up for their communities. These are some of the many service initiatives that took place across our ministries during Thanksgiving week.
Illinois
Ascension associates came together to support the 22nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Elk Grove, serving a warm holiday meal to those living alone, the elderly and others unable to prepare a Thanksgiving meal. Our volunteer clinicians, leaders and associates assisted in serving more than 900 Thanksgiving meals — the largest turnout in the event’s two-decade history.
Missouri
Ascension’s Community Health Ministries (CHMs) are committed to bringing essential services to underserved populations in communities of need. At Seton Center, Ascension’s CHM in Kansas City, associates rallied to assemble Thanksgiving food bags and clothing for local families, serving more than 605 households with food in November alone. Tom Aloia, Ascension Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer also joined in, lending a hand with preparing Thanksgiving food bags to ensure families continue to receive support throughout the season.
Indiana
In Indiana, Ascension leaders and community partners supported the BackPack Food for Kids Program, which provides full meals for K–12 students facing food insecurity. Volunteers packed bags with breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and snacks — a simple but meaningful way to help support local children over Thanksgiving break.
Florida
For 32 years Ascension St. Vincent has partnered with Meals on Wheels to deliver more than 1,000 warm meals to seniors in need. This long-standing tradition of nourishing and uplifting members of the community is well loved by participating team members, including some who have volunteered at the event for over a decade.
In addition, Ascension St. Vincent’s emergency department associates volunteered their time to serve Thanksgiving dinner to youth at the Duval Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Jacksonville. They provided a hot holiday meal for both the young people housed there and the staff who support them, offering comfort and care during the holiday.
Tennessee
A committee of Ascension staff wrapped up November’s hospital-wide food drive at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown with a heartfelt delivery to the Christian Cooperative Ministry, filling an entire truck bed with food that supported Nashville-area families preparing for Thanksgiving.
