MUSC employee inspired to start Day of Thankfulness, fundraiser to feed children’s hospital care teams for 24 hours

Pediatric palliative care nurse practitioner Shannon D'Alton started a Day of Thankfulness to show appreciation for care team members at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women's Pavilion.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ "I have spent nearly my entire career at MUSC working alongside the most caring and compassionate team members,” D’Alton said. “COVID, paired with an unprecedented summer, left my friends and colleagues in the PICU tired and overwhelmed. I wanted to do something to help boost morale and express my appreciation for all the care they had given to countless patients and families."⁠⁠

D’Alton started with an Instagram post, asking friends to donate so she could buy meals for the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) team. The overwhelming response inspired D’Alton to create a Day of Thankfulness for all care team members at the children’s hospital.

Between community support and sales of her artwork, D’Alton raised nearly $8,000 – enough to provide a meal to every care team member at the hospital. On Oct. 5 and 6, 2021, Harvest Catering delivered more than 700 meals to hospital staff.

“A Day of Thankfulness was made possible by many loving souls and helping hands,” D’Alton said. “In times like these, feeling appreciated goes a long way. I hope that appreciation was deeply felt by every single care team member and that this good deed inspires many more to do the same. This is what being a community is all about. Coming together and working together.”