12/6/07
Dialysis Center gets a special delivery of Christmas Spirit
By Eric Goold

ERIC GOOLD/Manning Times

Students from Manning High School in front of the Christmas tree they decorated at the Manning Dialysis Center. Standing in the back row (left to right) are Linda Harris, Eloise Conyers-Jackson, teacher Tracy Weeks and Kenya Brock.

The Manning Dialysis Center was visited by some of Santa’s elves this past week, bearing Christmas decorations and sharing the Holiday spirit.

The elves came via the Manning High School special needs students, who decorated a Christmas tree at the Dialysis Center and helped spruce up the lobby with wreaths and shiny packages to go under the tree.

Tomasina Smith, a teacher at the high school and a patient at the center, thought it would be a good idea and asked Tracy Weeks, who teaches the special needs children, if they would like to decorate the center and bring some holiday cheer to its employees and patients.

“Of course they’re excited to be here. Just look at how happy they are,” said Weeks, who directed the children and their decorating efforts on Thursday morning at the Dialysis Center.

“Ms. Smith connected us to the center and we thought it would be a great outreach as part of our Ideas in Motion program,” said Weeks. “We’re delighted to do it. It brings some Holiday cheer to the people here as well as to these children.”

Children scurried about the lobby, decorating the tree with candy canes, ribbons and ornaments. They were under the care and guidance of a great staff consisting of Kenya Brock, Linda Harris, Weeks and the Lady Eloise Conyers-Jackson.

Natasha Wilson, who works at the Dialysis Center, said that the students’ efforts had already earned praise.

“All of our patients talk about the tree as soon as they come in,” said Wilson. “We definitely thank these children for coming in and sharing some Christmas cheer. The lobby looks a lot brighter and happier with all of the decorations.”

The director of the Dialysis Center is Cheryl Blackwell, who also was pleased with the decorating efforts of the children.

“Our staff and our patients are very happy to have them,” said Wilson. “They brought the Christmas Spirit right in.”