Hospitals and clinics are dressed in holiday cheer as staff members celebrate the season by putting up decorations, welcoming musical choirs and collecting toys to bring smiles to the faces of young patients during this special time of the year.

The familiar, 3-foot-tall boxes have appeared at Central Office as Corporate Security conducts its annual toy drive. Employees are asked to contribute stuffed animals, dolls, trucks, games and other gifts for distribution to pediatric patients in the hospitals on Christmas Eve. Corporate Security has been holding the toy drive for about five years and through the generosity of employees is able to collect and distribute hundreds of gifts to children in HHC facilities. Micheline Lecoin-Okafor, Director of Corporate Security, said toys will be collected from boxes at 125 Worth St., 346 Broadway and 160 Water St. until Dec. 23.

December 2010

	A 20-foot-tall Christmas tree makes a dazzling centerpiece in the Bellevue Hospital atrium.		Staff members celebrating the holidays at Bellevue.
	The holiday window displays at the Coler Campus were designed by Robert Hernandez, a Coler-Goldwater Activity Therapist.		Another window display by Robert Hernandez.
	The Bryant High School Chorus sang Christmas carols at Elmhurst Hospital.		Staff from the Rehabilitation Medicine department at Metroplitan with gifts they collected for children in the hospital.
	Dr. John M. Palmer, Executive Director of Harlem Hospital, left, with members of the Friends of Harlem Hospital Center, Michael Garner, center, and Gregg Walker at the group’s annual holiday party.		Corwin Breeden, and Dr. Muriel Petioni of the Friends of Harlem Hospital Center, left, with City Councilwoman Inez E. Dickens and State Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright, right.