Golden Valley Health Centers ‘adopts’ families for the holidays

Rosio High and her four children stopped by Golden Valley Health Centers on Wednesday for a doctor’s appointment, but left with arms full of gifts and big smiles.

In the spirit of the holidays, Golden Valley Health Centers showered High and her children with gifts as part of their “Adopt A Family” drive. Staff at each GVHC location picked a family they believed could use the extra help this season.

At the GVHC Suites in Merced, High and her children were the lucky family.

“This is exciting,” High said. “I didn’t expect this. I feel so blessed.”

The single mother said the gifts, which included a Walmart gift card to be used on a turkey or dinner of their choice, is a big help. High and her children have been patients at GVHC since 2010. The doctors and staff are always caring, she said, but this time they went above and beyond.

Annette Hodge, center manager at GVHC’s Childs Avenue location, said staff interact daily with patients and know which families could benefit from this gesture. The gifts included toys, books, bags and school supplies. Doctors, nurses and office personnel donate gifts or contribute to the purchase of gift cards, Hodges explained.

“Our mission is serve the underserved, and this is one way for us to pay it forward, especially this time of year,” she said.

She explained the centers usually do something to give back to patients during the holidays, but this is the first time all clinics joined the companywide effort of “adopting a family.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 6:16 PM with the headline "Golden Valley Health Centers ‘adopts’ families for the holidays."