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Program helps employees, people in need by Cindy Abole Public Relations Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas are holidays that typically inspire voluntary acts of kindness and gratitude. But when tragedy strikes or an unexpected emergency descends upon co-workers and their families, it can turn their world upside-down.   Once again the MUSC family is coming together to provide hope and holiday magic for our fellow employees in need.   “This program was a huge success last year,” said Elizabeth Nista. “We filled one Salvation Army truck to overflowing and had to request a second which we again completely filled. Those of us in the Horseshoe that day who witnessed the parade of MUSC employees coming out of the hospital and wheeling carts overflowing with toys to the trucks will never forget it. There weren’t many dry eyes that day.”   The Families First program offers employees and their families who are experiencing hardships and personal difficulties during the holiday season with a place to go in a discreet and confidential manner. The project teams MUSC with The Salvation Army to manage requests for 3,000 to 5,000 Tri-county families in a discreet method. For individuals who want to participate, the angel tree is a wonderful way to make a difference.   The idea was the brainchild of several Medical University Hospital Authority employees and was coordinated under the leadership of Nista and co-worker Marian Taylor. The foundation of the program came from similar employee assistance programs at the University of Alabama Birmingham and statewide Police Benevolent Associations.   “Pairing up with The Salvation Army in this program is a plus,” said Taylor. “Their presence in the Lowcountry these past 99 years proves that the need is already there. We get heartbreaking calls from employees all year long for assistance but unfortunately all we can do right now is direct them to other programs.”   Employees and their families can apply to the Angel Tree project at Salvation Army offices in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties from Oct. 24-28 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4.   Applicants must provide each family member’s social security numbers, picture IDs of all adults in the household, birth certificates for each child, and proof of residence and income.   Families accepted to the program will receive holiday support through meals, toys and gifts. In addition, The Salvation Army also offers clients short- and long-term assistance.   Beginning next month, Christmas trees decorated with printed angel tags will be setup and distributed throughout the medical center and campus to allow MUSC employees to help out. Those departments without trees will also have access to angels. “Last year there were some very creative displays, from wall art using the angels to baskets filled with angels,” said Nista. All departments that would like angels are urged to contact Nista. Each angel cut-out contains a name and age.   By Dec. 16, at 2 p.m., Angel Tree participants can bring their unwrapped gift (with attached angel tag) to a holiday celebration in the horseshoe where the Salvation Army truck will be filled.   For additional information about obtaining angels or MUSC Families First, call Nista at 792-8382 or e-mail at nistal@musc.edu. MUSC Families First/Salvation Army applicants must bring the following documents to apply: SSN cards for all members in household Picture ID of all adults in household Children’s birth certificate(s) Proof of residence (mortgage statement, lease, utility bill, pay stub) Proof of income Application dates and times: Oct. 24-28: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday Oct. 31-Nov. 4: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday with Tuesday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Charleston County residents 2135 Ashley River Road, Charleston, S.C. 747-5271, ext. 10 Dorchester County residents 210 East 5th St., Summerville, S.C 851-2368 (8:30 a.m. to noon) Berkeley County residents 203 White St., Moncks Corner, S.C. 761-8626 (8:30 a.m. to noon)     Friday, Oct. 21, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.