KEARNEY — There is a new Christmas tradition at CHI Health Good Samaritan hospital in Kearney.
The Good Samaritan Foundation is sponsoring the Tree of Love, which will be on display in the West Tower throughout the Christmas season.
Cindi Richter, Good Samaritan Foundation director, said while the tradition is new to Kearney, it has been sponsored at CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island for several years.
The Tree of Love is adorned with acrylic ornaments, in the shape of a heart, that were personalized with a message to memorialize a loved one. The ornaments could also honor a new baby, celebrate a couple’s first Christmas, mark an anniversary, etc.
The ornaments could be purchased by residents for $20 and all the proceeds went to support the Good Samaritan EMS Ambulance Replacement project.
Richter said their ambulance project also received the funds the foundation receives during the Kearney Area Community Foundation’s Give Where You Live campaign, which was also occurring on Thursday.
“A few of the aging ambulances in the Good Samaritan EMS fleet have reached their suggested lifespan and are in need of replacement. Good Samaritan EMS ambulances are used for 911 calls, long distance transports and can be seen on standby at structure fires and home sporting events in the area,” CHI Health stated.
A blessing of the Tree of Love was hosted on Thursday, which was opened by Christmas carols being sung by the Kearney Catholic High School Stardust Singers choir.
Families then hung their sponsored ornaments on the tree, one-by-one, as the names were read out.
“Christmas is a time for reflection, counting our blessings and honoring those who have left a mark on our lives. Our community’s generosity helps further our mission to make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve,” said Richter, “We are extremely grateful and genuinely humbled to share in the memories honored by our Tree of Love.”
Families have the option to collect their ornaments from the tree in January 2024. Any left on the tree will continue to hung on the tree in years to come.
