The Medical/Surgical Partnership Council, a nursing governance committee at Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center, identified a need and decided to address it. Little did they know that they would receive such an overwhelming response.

The council challenged all staff members to a two-part contest: (1) create a decorated box for a food collection project and (2) collect more food than any other department. Many departments took the challenge, creating multiple colorful and creative “boxes” to hold their food—or not hold all the food, as the case may be.

All together, a total of 2,325.9 pounds of food were collected and donated to the New Hope Ministries to help feed needy people in Paris. According to Beth Rigdon, Med/Surg Manager, “Both we and the ministry program were completely amazed at the generous support of this project by our staff. Kudos go to everybody who participated in some way.”

Winners of the contest for creativity and theme were the staff members from FMC Medical Records, whose theme was a wishing well. The Med/Surg Department collected the most food with 428.6 pounds.

The Med/Surg Partnership Council is one of the nursing committees of the healthcare organization. Members address problems and implementation in regard to new policies and procedures, plan community outreach, and plan department members’ birthday remembrances and their Christmas party. Council members include Tammy Sexton, R.N.; Cherie Mattingly, L.P.N.; Marilyn LeFever, C.N.A., A.D.; Marcia Murphy, R.N.; Cassie LaBaume, C.N.A.; Mary Henson, R.N.; Darla Burgess, R.N.; and Elizabeth Rigdon, R.N.