February 16, 2021
‘Eastview Elves’ help residents celebrate the holidays
Over the holidays this year, patients and residents at The Bay at Eastview Health and Rehabilitation Center got some got some help from some “Eastview’s Elves” in making a difficult time of year due to the COVID-19 pandemic a little more special.
It all started when it became clear that Johnson Electric Coil Company employees were not going to be able to have the Christmas party that they normally do because of the need for social distancing. The team started thinking about what they could do with the money they normally spend.
“Everyone said, ‘We all work and get paychecks, we get time off to see our families and we don’t really need anything,’ so we asked ourselves, ‘Who could we help instead?’” said Julie Berndt, vice president of operations of Johnson Electric Coil Company. “We chose Eastview because we knew COVID-19 restricted the residents from seeing family and visitors. We wanted to make sure they were not forgotten, particularly at Christmas. It was a unanimous decision to give to Eastview instead of taking it for ourselves.”
Kim McCann, director community outreach and admissions at The Bay at Eastview Health and Rehabilitation Center, said that the gift from Johnson Electric Coil Co. was critical to help the Center purchase unique and personal gifts for residents. Gifts included sweatshirts, socks, shirts, and favorite snacks and beverages.
“One of my favorite songs is ‘Angels Among Us.’ I believe there are angels among us sent down to us from somewhere up above. We have so many angels among us here in our small town,” McCann said. “Christmas 2020 for our residents was extra special because of the Christmas Elves from Johnson Electric Coil Company. We are so blessed.”
McCann also offered a special thank you to Antigo resident and Eastview friend Carol Engebretson, who along with her “Thirty-One” Businesses and friends, provided tote bags filled with stocking stuffers that were distributed to Eastview residents over the holidays this year.
