Technically speaking, they were just a bunch of boxes filled with groceries. 

But they meant so much more than that to the cancer patients who received them Monday (Nov. 22) during a Thanksgiving food distribution event at St. Tammany Cancer Center, a campus of Ochsner Medical Center. 

Inside each box was a collection of food curated by the cancer center’s dietitians to help the recipients celebrate a happy, and, more importantly, a healthy Thanksgiving.  

Each also came with a big, fat turkey and a $50 gift card so recipients could prepare those special, comfort-food dishes that make their family gatherings unique to them. Extra food was also included to last through the Thanksgiving weekend.  

All together, each box contained about $150 worth of healthy food. But for people like patient Paul Dollar of Bogalusa, the real value was less tangible. 

“It’s awesome,” Mr. Dollar said. “I’ve got a friend of mine; he’s kind of enclosed, and I don’t have much in the way of Thanksgiving stuff to do, either. So I thought I’d come out and do something a little special for both me and him, so we both don’t have to be alone for Thanksgiving.” 

He added: “Cancer kind of makes people realize what’s important.” 

We couldn’t have said it better, and we’re thankful for patients like Mr. Dollar for sharing that perspective. 

We’re also thankful for St. Tammany Hospital Foundation, In Jesus’ Name Foundation, Gallagher Insurance, Risk Management and Consulting, and the others who made Monday’s food distribution possible.  

And we’re thankful for you, our neighbors, and for the privilege of being your homegrown community health provider since 1954. 

Please enjoy the below stories from the STHS newsroom, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  

St. Tammany Health System’s inaugural United in Pink breast cancer awareness campaign is in the books, and health system leadership is, to put it mildly, tickled pink with the results.

On Nov. 17, key community partners in the campaign celebrated its success, as well as the money it raised for local cancer services, at a wrap-up event at the Southern Hotel in Covington.

In all, the campaign – which ran throughout October to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month – raised $35,287. That money will go directly toward cancer care at the newly constructed St. Tammany Cancer Center, a campus of Ochsner Medical Center, which was designed to provide patients a local “one-stop shop” for cancer care.