News : Toy drive is just one way VGH employees help community residents, organizations

Monica Stark is again leading the toy drive for VGH employees to help families served by Horizons.

The employees at Virginia Gay Hospital have already filled on barrel of toys to give to the families served by Horizons.

“Looks like I need to find another barrel,” said Monica Stark, who organized the toy drive again this year. Monica’s sister, Lori Hague, works at Horizons.

The toy drive is one of the “casual day” efforts that VGH employees have been part of in recent years.

“Administrator Mike Riege told us that we can wear jeans to work if we bring a toy for the toy drive,” said Stark.

Area residents are also invited to participate; toys may be left in the barrels in the VGH cafeteria on the lower level.

Lori Hagg of Horizons – Stark’s sister – said the generosity of VGH employees and others will help 40 to 45 Benton County families. All of the donations remain in Benton County.

“It’s a great thing that the hospital employees do,” said Hagg. “We are very appreciative.”

Horizons receives funding for its family services from Benton County Empowerment.

Riege is not at all surprised at the quick and enthusiastic response of the employees to this effort.

“Our employees are very generous,” says Riege. “They do so many things I cant think of them all.”

VGH employees have participated in food drives for the local food pantry. In recent years they have been involved in the Livestrong project.

A few years ago, VGH employee Kristi Elwick led a campaign to sell red shirts to raise funds for families of U.S. troops serving in the Middle East.

“It seems like every employee had two of those shirts,” Riege recalls.

A more recent effort to help U.S. troops, led by Sharon Geater, involved the employees in bringing items to send to American forces in Afghanistan. Geater’s brother is a military chaplain serving there.

“Whenever there is a community effort, our employees are always a part of it,” said Riege. “Our employees do many things for other people and organizations. They also donate very generously to our Tree of Lights campaign each year."