Surrey Health Workers Celebrated at Annual Operation Popcorn

Health-Care Teams Recognized With Festive Treats and Thanks

Staff at Surrey Memorial Hospital were thanked this week as part of the annual Operation Popcorn event, an initiative that brings holiday treats and heartfelt gratitude to health-care professionals across British Columbia. The program made its stop in Surrey on December 5, giving teams snacks and recognition for their lifesaving work over the past year. 

Operation Popcorn is organized by BC Transplant and its volunteers including organ transplant recipients, living donors and donor family members who visit hospitals with boxes of popcorn and personal stories. The event, now in its 34th year, gives staff in intensive care units, emergency departments and operating rooms a chance to meet people whose lives were saved or changed through organ donation. 

Stories of Healing and Second Chances

At the Surrey memorial stop, one recipient shared his life journey. A local resident who nearly died from liver failure 14 years ago told staff how a transplant gave him a second chance. He described being able to watch his children grow up and celebrate the births of grandchildren experiences that would not have been possible without care from health-care teams and the donor organ. 

His remarks echoed what many participants say each year: Operation Popcorn helps health-care workers see the positive results of their often difficult work. Intensive care and operating rooms are places where professionals focus on acute needs and donor-related care, yet rarely witness the long-term impact when patients recover and thrive. 

A Province-Wide Holiday Tradition With Meaning

Operation Popcorn runs every December and this winter volunteers plan to visit dozens of hospitals throughout B.C. More than 5,000 popcorn packages will be delivered to health-care teams, giving recipients a unique opportunity to express gratitude in person. 

Organizers and volunteers say the event not only thanks staff for their dedication but also raises awareness of organ donation and its powerful impact on families and communities. In recent years, partnerships such as one with the Canada Revenue Agency have helped boost organ-donor registrations, further highlighting the lasting importance of this annual tradition. 

Why It Matters Locally

For staff at Surrey hospitals and beyond, Operation Popcorn is more than a festive gesture. It helps deepen connections between care teams and the people whose lives they touch. The stories shared during visits remind professionals of the long-term rewards of their work, and for recipients, it’s a chance to give something back.

This local stop in Surrey adds to a broader provincial tradition that has grown over decades, respecting health-care contributions while encouraging community engagement and donor registration across B.C. 

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