JACKSON -- The turkeys and pumpkins have been put away, and the holly and candy canes can take their place as the holidays approach, with the Jackson community gearing up for the fourth annual Jackson Christmas Tea Dec. 7 at the Jackson Golf Club.
The tea's theme this year is "The Musical Magic of Christmas," and The Village Singers, a group of adults with mental and physical disabilities, will provide entertainment for the event.
"It's very heartwarming and humbling to listen to them. They're just awesome," said Mary Ruyter, chief executive officer of Sanford Jackson Medical Center. "I'm excited about the entertainment this year, and I hope all the people that come will enjoy the program."
The tea's first seating is at noon and its second at 5:30 p.m., both at the Jackson Golf Club. Tickets are available from Barney Olson, Bank Midwest or the Sanford Jackson Medical Center, and should be purchased in advance.
The tea includes a salad, a light meal and a showcase dessert, along with plenty of hot tea. Participants keep their teacups and saucers when they leave and may also purchase matching teapots to add to their collections.
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A silent auction will be going on during the tea, with many opportunities for people to pick up Christmas gifts for friends and family, with all proceeds from the meal and auction going toward the Jackson Healthcare Foundation.
The Jackson Healthcare Foundation is a nonprofit group charged with providing funds for area health needs, including the Jackson Ambulance and Sanford Jackson Medical Center.
The foundation recently contributed $750,000 to a $3.3 million renovation project at Sanford Jackson, which will include a new radiology suite with an in-house CT scanning machine. The machine can be used to send images to radiologists to be read and interpreted instantly, and, along with a new X-ray machine and laboratory, will greatly enhance Sanford Jackson's diagnostic capabilities.
The hospital and clinic entrances will also be remodeled so the facility will have a single point of entry for customers, Ruyter said, allowing for better customer services.
Sanford Jackson's emergency room will be renovated, with the addition of one large room composed of two trauma bays and an emergency room suite, offering a patient more privacy. An updated emergency room waiting room will offer families a more private, comfortable place to go.
The surgical suite, too, will be renovated and updated, and Sanford Jackson will look at updating some patient rooms at the hospital.
