Hospital staff provide lunch and school supplies to more than 100 children

CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice associates gathered at the Boys and Girls Club of Alice on December 15 to hand out school supplies and provide a midday meal to more than 100 children. The hospital group collected donated items, including pens, pencils, scissors, glue, hand sanitizer and similar materials, and coordinated a lunch to make the distribution a community event.

Thomas McKinney, president of CHRISTUS Spohn Hospitals Alice and Kleberg, spoke about the hospital team s role in the effort, saying "hospital associates are honored to serve the community and that providing school supplies helps the children they serve all year long." The event included a courtesy photo provided by the hospital documenting volunteers and recipients at the club s facilities.

Organizers said the supplies were intended for students facing financial strain and those whose families have limited access to basic classroom materials. Providing these items reduces an immediate stressor for parents and caregivers, and helps ensure children arrive at school ready to participate. Serving lunch at the same time gave families a brief moment of relief and allowed the hospital staff to connect directly with local families and club staff.

The Boys and Girls Club of Alice served as host for the distribution, a local hub that already provides after school programming and safe space for students. The hospital s involvement underscores a growing pattern of nonprofit and health sector engagement in community support outside of clinical care, bringing resources and volunteer time into neighborhood institutions.

For Jim Wells County residents the event offered practical assistance and a visible reminder of local collaboration. Beyond the immediate benefit of supplies and food, the distribution reinforced relationships between healthcare providers and community organizations that can be mobilized again for vaccination drives, health education or other support services.

Hospital leaders framed the activity as part of their community mission, with staff participation providing not only materials but an investment in students preparedness and wellbeing. The distribution is one of several local efforts that aim to reduce barriers to education by meeting everyday needs, and organizers said they will continue seeking donations and volunteer support for similar activities in the future.