By Tracey Flamenco
The Forgotten Patient Christmas Project at the Utah State Hospital has started once again, bringing patients a touch of the holiday season.
The project recruits volunteers to provide gifts for patients who would otherwise receive little or nothing over the holidays.
Sponsors are given the name of a patient between the ages of 6 to 90 to provide Christmas for.
Information about the patient is sent to the sponsor to help them choose gifts specific to the patient. The sponsors wrap and label the packages and deliver them to the hospital before Christmas.
This project has helped thousands of Utah”s mentally ill celebrate Christmas for over 40 years, according to a news release. Patients at the Utah State Hospital are away from home during the holidays and are often unable to enjoy the festivities and holiday cheer. The patients are able to enjoy the holidays through the kindness and concern of people in the community through the Christmas Project.
For further information on how to help, contact Shawna Peterson, volunteer director, at 801-344-4254.
