SunCare Hospice & Palliative Care Spreads Holiday Hope With Thanksgiving Food Drive

What began as a simple question—“Why can’t we do more?”—turned into a powerful community effort that touched dozens of families across Effingham County this Thanksgiving. Led by Office Manager Caitlin Gibson, SunCare Hospice & Palliative Care in Rincon organized a Thanksgiving Food Drive that grew far beyond its original vision, fueled by compassion and community collaboration.

Traditionally, SunCare provided one hot holiday meal to a patient and their family. But this year, something felt different. Caitlin began receiving calls from community members asking whether SunCare had a food pantry. Food scarcity is a real concern, especially for individuals under hospice care who may be living on minimal or no food assistance and facing the holidays with worry instead of warmth.

“It hit home,” Caitlin said. “I knew we could do better.”

With encouragement from her church family and support from SunCare  leadership, Caitlin launched a full Thanksgiving meal drive. She requested specific items that make up a traditional holiday dinner, including canned vegetables, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and gift cards for perishable items. Word spread quickly on social media, and donations began pouring into the SunCare office.

A major boost came from Lighthouse Baptist Church of Brooklet, whose congregation supplied bags of food and helped promote the effort. Their generosity allowed SunCare not only to meet the needs of its own patients, but also to extend support to families connected to the church. Out of SunCare’s census of 50 patients, 14 families expressed a need—and all 14 received full Thanksgiving meals. Lighthouse Baptist Church families received an additional 14 food bags, doubling the impact.

SunCare’s nurses, who see firsthand the challenges patients face inside their homes, played a crucial role in identifying needs. Central Hospice also contributed by providing turkeys to staff members, three of which were immediately donated to families who otherwise would have gone without.

The ripple effect didn’t stop there. With an abundance of donations, SunCare was able to supply 20 additional food bags to a local elementary school, ensuring even more families experienced a brighter holiday.

This effort reflects the heart behind SunCare Blessings, Inc., the organization’s ongoing initiative to use donations directly for patient needs—whether that means repairing a porch, providing lawn care, or assisting with essential household tasks.

“We believe in doing things right and having empathy for our patients,” Caitlin said. “This is part of who we are.”

Caitlin’s passion for service runs deep. Her mother worked in hospice, and Caitlin herself was a CNA directly caring for patients before transitioning into her current role. She sees her work as a calling and a way to leave a meaningful imprint on the community she loves. SunCare’s census now includes 54 patients, all receiving care in their homes, and the organization is preparing to open a six-bed inpatient unit in Springfield by spring.

For Caitlin, the success of the Thanksgiving Food Drive is just the beginning.

“I wish we could do more,” she said. “And we will.”

SunCare Hospice & Palliative Care
SunCare Blessings, Inc.
804 Towne Park Drive, Suite 200
Rincon, GA 31326
(912) 800-9288
facebook.com/SunCareBlessings