St. Tammany Health System on Monday celebrated the members of the all-volunteer St. Tammany Hospital Guild with its annual holiday party, a lighthearted gathering at the main campus of St. Tammany Parish Hospital.
This year’s theme, “Reindeer Games,” set a playful tone for the midday celebration, which featured holiday-themed games, friendly competition and a variety of prizes for attendees. Dozens of guild members turned out, as did members of the health system’s executive team, filling the room with laughter, conversation and Christmas cheer.
A catered lunch from Nan’s Café in Mandeville gave volunteers time to relax, visit with one another and enjoy a warm meal together during the busy holiday season.
Adding to the festive atmosphere was a whimsical display of stuffed Christmas figurines arranged throughout the room. The collection, drawn from the private trove of St. Tammany Health System Volunteer Services Coordinator Shirley Primes, gave the room a cheerful, holiday-home feel. Primes herself leaned fully into the theme, donning Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer regalia as she led the day’s fun.
“We would like to thank you for everything you do – and y’all do a lot,” Primes said. “I just don’t know how we would manage to accomplish everything we do without all of you.”
The annual event serves as an expression of appreciation for the guild, members of which have been providing year-round support to patients, visitors and staff across the health system since the volunteer group's founding in 1955.
Scroll down for more images from Monday’s event.