(Greensburg, IN) – A simple idea from one nurse sparked a holiday giving effort inside Decatur County Memorial Hospital.
In the days leading up to Christmas, the hospital’s Surgery Department came together to support the Decatur County AGAPE Center’s Christmas Blessing Basket program, which helps local families put a holiday meal on the table.
The effort began when Hannah, a surgery nurse, suggested creating a team project that would have a direct impact in the community. She pointed to the AGAPE Center, which last year provided one hundred twenty Christmas Blessing Baskets filled with food and essentials. Earlier this season, the center shared that it needed additional donations to meet demand again in 2025.
The idea quickly gained support.
Another nurse, McKinsey, teamed up with her husband, Dustin, to build a wooden donation tree that was placed in the surgery waiting room. Decorated by the staff, the tree became both a collection point for food donations and a festive display for patients and visitors.
Donations poured in from surgery staff, hospital employees, patients, and visitors, all aimed at helping neighbors facing food insecurity. With the tree now full, the department plans to deliver the donations to the AGAPE Center and make the project an annual tradition.
“Food insecurity is an ongoing challenge in Decatur County, and the hospital’s support is very helpful,” said Kim Springmeyer, an AGAPE Center representative.
The AGAPE Center serves local residents year-round, providing food and assistance daily, not just during the holidays.
DCMH says the project reflects a broader mission of caring for the community beyond its walls.
