HOULTON — Staff at Visiting Nurses of Aroostook and Hospice of Aroostook (VNA/HOA) have put a new twist on their traditional Yankee Swap during their staff holiday celebration this year. Rather than swap gifts for one another, they exchanged gifts to benefit Toys for Tots.
In advance of their party, participating staff filled out a form to share ideas about what they enjoy doing, including fishing, watching the Red Sox, camping, crafting, etc. The forms were collected and put in a hat. Staff each pick one name and purchase a toy that best represents the person’s name drawn. 
TOY HELPERS — The staff at Visiting Nurses of Aroostook and Hospice of Aroostook (VNA/HOA) collected items for Toys for Tots. Taking part are, from left, Sherri-Lynn Gagnon, VNA/HOA social worker, Rudy St. Peter, Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots representative and Gail Phair-Kirk VNA/HOA hospice team supervisor.
Staff members unwrapped “their” gift to see what toy was selected for them. And since Toys for Tots requests that gifts not be wrapped, all items were then collected and picked up by Rudy St. Peter, Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots representative. Seen in the photo with Rudy are VNA/HOA staff members Sherri-Lynn Gagnon (left) and Gail Phair-Kirk.
Toys for Tots can be reached by contacting Rudy St. Peter at 834-3504.
A part of Eastern Maine HomeCare, Visiting Nurses of Aroostook and Hospice of Aroostook provide home health and hospice services to nearly 1,000 Aroostook County residents each year.
For more information visit www.easternmainehomecare.org, or call our Patient Referral Line toll-free at 1-866-591-8843.
