Saint Francis Serves Day features acts of public service throughout eastern Oklahoma

Some 250 Saint Francis employees volunteered December 7 to celebrate the health system's history and mission in acts of public service.

During Saint Francis Serves Day, volunteers handed out food baskets, prepared food for public feeding programs, helped clean and improve area charities' facilities, helped stage an art show for a local nonprofit serving people with disabilities and put up Christmas decorations to spread holiday good cheer to the community.

Annually, the event is timed for the first Saturday in December, a date chosen for its proximity to December 3, the birthday of the health system's founder, W.K. Warren, Sr, and the feast day of its patron and namesake, St. Francis Xavier.

"From providing food to the hungry to offering Christmas joy to those facing life’s challenges, we made a lasting impact," Saint Francis President and CEO Dr. Cliff Robertson said in an email to the volunteers. "Where there was darkness, we brought hope and light.”

Echoing the Saint Francis Vision, he added, "In moments like these, we truly are lighting the way to a healthier tomorrow."

Like Saint Francis, the event reached throughout eastern Oklahoma. Volunteers were at work in McAlester, Muskogee, Vinita and across Tulsa. Charities served included Little Light House, The Parent Child Center, Hospitality House, City Lights, Filling the Void, Lindsey House, Emergency Infant Services, The Center, and Catholic Charities in Tulsa, Muskogee and McAlester.

Saint Francis began the annual effort in 2020, amid the COVID-19 crisis. Under intense pressure from the pandemic, employees decided to ease their stress by serving others within their communities. 

“Our employees at that time wanted to gather together to give of themselves, not just in the hospital where they were doing quite intensive work, but to give of themselves in the community,” said Sister Marysia Weber, vice president of Mission and Ministry for Saint Francis." They wanted to be part of something bigger.”

The Tulsa World featured the event prominently in its Sunday paper, including a comment from Sandy May, who works in admissions at the Sant Francis labor and delivery unit.

“It was important for us to be in the community. We wanted to serve people — and to have people see and connect with us — outside the hospital. We want to help out in different ways,” May said.