Nursing Home Raises $8K To Make Local Family's Christmas Special

BABYLON, NY - A grandmother and her two granddaughters whose parents passed away, got a special Christmas surprise this year thanks to the efforts from a West Babylon nursing home.

On Dec. 21, East Neck Nursing and Rehabilitation located on 134 Great East Neck Road managed to raise $8,000 for Karen, whose daughter was an employee at the nursing home.

In 2013, Karen lost her daughter in a tragic car accident. Then this past October, the girls lost their father making Karen became the sole caregiver for her 12 and 14-year-old granddaughters.

Recently, Karen mentioned that she was hoping that "there would be some way she could give my girls the Christmas they deserve."

She wanted to be buy presents for her granddaughters, but she was living paycheck-to-paycheck and couldn’t afford to buy them anything.

Every year, Keith Powers, East Neck Nursing and Rehabilitation’s administrator, gives out gifts to employees that usually cost around $500.

This year, he decided that her wanted to do something to give back to someone in the local community and everyone agreed they should put the money towards something bigger.

So when he reached out to Kaitlin Powers and Courtney Webb, both regional members of admissions at the facility, to see if they knew of anyone who may need a little extra help this holiday season, Webb informed him about Karen.

He thought this was the best way to spread holiday cheer.

So just when Karen was waiting for a Christmas miracle, she received a call from an East Neck employee asking her if she would mind if the facility could “adopt” her family and help raise money for her and her two granddaughters.

Then on Dec. 21, the facility hosted a fundraiser for Karen.

Members of the local community stopped in to enjoy a dessert and hot chocolate bar, make a donation to participate in a Chinese Auction, and to take home a freshly baked apple pie for their generous contribution.

Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer and Councilwoman Jacqueline A. Gordonwere were among the guests who attended the event.

In just three hours the facility, raised $3,700 for Karen and her granddaughters.

The owner of East Neck Nursing matched the money raised, bringing the total to $7,400. The facility’s administrator donated additional money, bringing the grand total to $8,000.

"East Neck Nursing and Rehabilitation is really proud to have been a part of this and spread some much needed holiday cheer to a family not just in our local community, but to a family that was and is still part of our East Neck Nursing community," a spokesperson for the facility said.

As a result, Karen and her granddaughters had an extra memorable Christmas.

Photos courtesy of East Neck Nursing and Rehabilitation