At each visit she thanked state employees for their excellent work throughout the year, and praised them for being individuals committed to serving Indiana's citizens. With this spirit of service in mind, the First Lady added a special thank you to those who participated in the Hoosiers helping Hoosiers food and toiletry drive. After wishing everyone a happy holidays, all employees were personally invited to the Sunset on the Millennium Ceremony and Family Festival at the State House on New Year's Eve. Program Governor O'Bannon recently recognized Douglas Wray, an employee of the Department of Health, for his suggestion that improves service and reduces costs. In January of 1998 Mr. Wray suggested a way to streamline the long, slow process for paying some claims made by authorized WIC stores.
Claimants now receive payment much sooner and with less paperwork.
This has been a public relations plus for the Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana WIC Program. In the truest spirit of the season, state employees went to work last month for Hoosiers in need by taking part in the Hoosiers helping Hoosiers food drive. Announced by Governor and Mrs. O'Bannon on November 29, the drive energized state workers from Evansville to Gary and all parts in between. The Interchange press time fell before the two week food drive was over, so we can't tell you how much food and household supplies were collected around the state. Donations, however, were pouring in as the food drive entered its final hours on December 10th.