On the Main Campus of West Tennessee Healthcare, the Pulmonary Progressive Care Unit, better known as A9, has been making a big difference every Christmas for the past ten years. Their annual Stewardship Project is all about giving back to the community, and this last Christmas was their most successful effort yet.
This wonderful tradition started a decade ago when the A9 team decided to use their caring nature to help beyond the hospital walls. Every November, they team up to choose a local cause to support. The team members nominate organizations that are close to their hearts and the entire unit votes on whom they’ll support. This year, for the second time, they joined the Beech River Cruisers Bike Drive for the Carl Perkins Centers. Their hard work paid off: they doubled the number of bikes they donated the previous year from 8 to 16. Their contributions combined with a huge effort that covered 10 counties! Not only did they raise enough to purchase 16 bikes, but the staff spent many hours assembling the bikes, ensuring the kids had an extra special Christmas morning.
But that wasn’t enough for this generous team. With the extra money they raised, A9 organized two “Santa Drops” at local nursing homes—Henderson Health & Rehabilitation Center and Briarwood Manor in Lexington, TN. The visit to Henderson Health & Rehab was particularly meaningful, as they dedicated it to the memory of their former director’s mom who used to live there. The team carefully chose gifts based on what the residents needed, including comfortable socks, night lights, gowns, and personal hygiene items, along with fun treats like Moon Pies, markers, and activity/coloring books. They gave enough to gift eight men and eight women at each facility, spreading Christmas cheer all around.
Their heart to spread joy during the holidays stems from a deep love of their patients. More often than not, their patients are elderly, and the staff of A9 sees people who rarely have visitors. By remembering those who can be left out, they seek to help everyone have a smile on Christmas.
The dedication and generosity of the team doesn’t go unnoticed. According to Teresa Cogdell, Director of Nursing for the Pulmonary Progressive Care Unit, everyone is eager to help and looks forward to their yearly stewardship projects. She mentioned, “No one says no; everyone comes together to do it every year.” No matter what’s going
on in their individual lives, the team always rallies together to spread joy during the holidays.
Looking ahead, the A9 team dreams of growing this heartwarming project even more. Over the past 10 years, they’ve been able to bless more and more community members. Their contributions, willingness to participate, and preparedness grow every single year.
West Tennessee Healthcare’s Pulmonary Progressive Care Unit’s Stewardship Fundraiser is more than just a holiday project—it’s a great example of how caring and teamwork can make a big difference. Their story inspires us all to spread joy and help others, not just at Christmas, but all year long. By following their lead, we can all find simple ways to give back and brighten someone’s day.
