Through its Holiday Giveaway, PCOM provided grocery gift cards and food bags to families across its healthcare centers.
To help local families enjoy the holiday season with less financial strain, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) hosted a Holiday Giveaway, distributing 250 grocery gift cards and holiday food bags to families and individuals across all three PCOM Healthcare Center locations.
Led by PCOM’s Community Wellness Initiative (CWI), the giveaway included grocery gift cards paired with food bags filled with classic holiday sides—providing families with the resources needed to prepare a meaningful meal while easing the financial pressure during a particularly demanding time of year.
Students, faculty, and staff participated in simultaneous distributions at PCOM’s Healthcare Centers, working directly with families to provide essential resources and a sense of connection. At the Lancaster Avenue Division, Ashley Poole, PsyD '20, LPC, an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology was on site sharing practical tips for managing holiday-related stress—offering guidance to help families navigate the emotional challenges that often accompany financial strain during the holiday season.
“This giveaway is about meeting families where they are and offering practical support when it matters most,” said Flo Byarms, director of PCOM’s Community Wellness Initiative. “The holidays can be joyful, but they can also bring real stress. Our goal is to help lighten that load while reminding families that they’re not alone.”
The initiative also commemorates the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday, aligning with PCOM’s legacy pledge to Philadelphia250 and reinforcing the institution’s longstanding commitment to service, access, and community well-being.
For many community members, the support offered immediate relief. Among these recipients was Sylvia Lawton, who has been a patient at PCOM’s Lancaster Avenue Healthcare Center for over a decade.
“I’ve been coming here for more than 15 years so I know everyone by name, and they’ve taken such good care of me,” said Lawton. “The support from PCOM has meant so much to me—it’s truly been a blessing.”
Lawton said she looks forward to using the gift card to make the holiday more festive for her two-year old daughter.
“Events like the holiday giveaway really show how much PCOM cares—not just about promoting health, but about our overall well-being and the community as a whole.”
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.
Gabrielle DePietro
Associate Director, News and Media Relations
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: gabrielde2@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6304
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