Food service worker’s simple gesture grows into card ministry for patients

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera Health.

At her first day on the job as a hospital food service ambassador, Beth Dubbelde noticed some of her patients seemed to feel lonely and melancholy. She soon began a small and simple gesture that turned into a card ministry among her co-workers.

Dubbelde began working at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. COVID-19 made a hospital stay, which can be isolating and difficult, even more challenging. As she brought in the food trays, it seemed that patients were hungry for conversation – “anything that was a nonclinical interaction.”

Dubbelde thought back to her own experience with her son’s past extended hospital stay.

“He received cards, drawings and handwritten notes from friends, family and people in our community.” The cards not only raised her son’s spirits, but she also felt encouraged that someone would care enough to take time to send him a greeting. Knowing that people were thinking of him helped in his recovery.

Cards to brighten a patient’s day

“So when I noticed patients who were in the hospital on their birthdays and holidays, I thought handwritten cards from staff could be a very simple thing that brightens their days,” Dubbelde said.

She started by purchasing birthday cards for patients and then enlisted the help of co-workers. “It’s nice to acknowledge special days while patients are in our care,” said Tiffany Santema, another food service ambassador. “I like being able to personalize cards for our patients. It’s such a simple thing to do and a great morale booster.”

The Avera McKennan food service department now sponsors this project. Staff design the cards using a program called Canva, and then cards are printed through the Avera print shop.

Beth Dubbelde displays a greeting card that will be shared with a hospital patient through the project she started.

Patient reaction has been heartwarming.

“Patients have cards pinned up on the boards in their rooms. I’ve spoken with patients who have two to three different holiday cards they have kept. Patients are touched that someone would take the time to handwrite a note,” said Dubbelde, who enjoys being able to live out Avera’s mission. “It makes a positive impact on their emotional health, it allows human dignity and just lets them know someone is thinking of them.”

Similar ministry sends holiday cards

Devon Comp, a chaplain at St. Croix Hospice, wanted to fulfill the same need, and eventually, he and Dubbelde crossed paths.

As a hospice chaplain, he finds it a privilege to be invited into the presence of others going through very difficult situations. “It is such a treasure getting to glimpse their lives, hold space for their stories, honor their grief and find hope in the midst of chaos.”

A particular case started him on the path to creating an organized effort for holiday cards. Comp  visited a young patient who later passed away.

“I remember going back to my office in tears. I prayed out loud, yearning to God to bring some peace to the pain that was so present in the hospital systems,” he said. “It was then the thought crossed my mind to write cards for those admitted over the holidays, so they would feel loved and not alone.”

From there, Comp proposed the idea to his wife and his small Bible study group. “Within three weeks, we wrote over 500 cards. The following year, we wrote 1,000 and donated over $500 to a local community member in need.”

Operation Hospital Christmas Care

Collaborating with chaplaincy at Avera McKennan, Comp has continued to write cards for both Sioux Falls hospital systems through an event called Operation Hospital Christmas Care, or OHCC. He also has handed out cards. “Patients almost always tear up,” he notes. “Some receive the cards with a warm smile. It is powerful getting to tell someone that another person in the community wrote a card specifically for them and that they are being prayed for during their hospital stay.”

Dubbelde attended the OHCC event after learning about it through Avera’s chaplains.

“I’m glad I was able to connect with OHCC. We have parallel missions.” The card-writing event is truly a community effort. “The atmosphere was festive with laughter, smiles and fellowship,” Dubbelde said.

“We were all gathering together for the common goal of spreading Christmas cheer.”

“OHCC is about coming together as a community and letting those admitted in the hospital systems know that they are loved just as they are,” Comp said.

Both Comp and Dubbelde have hopes for expanding their reach in the upcoming years.

“I’m not sure where it will go. It’s all about the people who continue to get involved and make this into something bigger than I could have ever dreamed of,” Comp said. “I have a feeling this is only the beginning.”

To volunteer to write cards for patients, you can connect with Devon Comp at [email protected].

Read more stories at Avera.org/Balance.