UI Health Leaders, Staff Step Up to Spread Cheer for the Holidays

On December 7, The University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics held the Miracle on Taylor Street, an employee holiday gift drive serving people who are less fortunate and forgotten. Now in its 28th year, the annual gift drive provides toys, clothing, blankets, books, and over 450 individual gifts. Managed by hospital community relations, the donated gifts are amassed from the collective generosity of hospital and university employees and distributed to partner organizations to spread the spirit of giving during the holidays. Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Dr. Robert Barish was on hand at the event with hospital leadership as presents were collected on campus. “It is wonderful and uplifting to see our UI Health community come together like this,” he said, “especially during the holidays when need may be more deeply felt. This is yet another example of our staff’s compassion and commitment to Chicago communities.”

Miracle on Taylor Street is an annual event that started in 1995 as a hospital initiative to help families in need from the near west side. In 2000, the program expanded to include Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa’s order of sisters), which gave the Miracle on Taylor project the opportunity to contribute toys for the mission’s day care program and other items, such as toiletries, socks, blankets, hats, and gloves for their shelter. Another five organizations were added in 2007. Today, Miracle on Taylor Street provides support for six organizations providing shelters for the homeless, and forgotten children: Chinese American Service League, Missionaries of Charity, Mujeres Latinas en Accion, Neopolitan Light House, New Hope, and Teresa’s (housing for Deborah’s Place). We extend our thanks to community relations, employees, medical students, Volunteer Services, information Services, Central Management Stores, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Marketing and UIC Police for their collaboration in supporting Miracle on Taylor Street.