Brights floors, bright spirits: Metropolitan floor technician spreads holiday cheer
At Methodist Hospital Metropolitan, the holiday season is more than a time of celebration; it’s an opportunity to give back and share joy with the community. Among the many team members who make this possible is Albert Morales, whose dedication to brightening spirits is as strong as his commitment to keeping the hospital shining.
If you’ve ever walked the halls of Methodist Hospital Metropolitan, you might have seen him: a man with a fluffy white beard, a twinkle in his eye, and a Dallas Cowboys scrub cap perched proudly on his head. That’s Morales, a floor technician who has worked for Methodist Healthcare System for more than 30 years, with the last five being at Metropolitan.
As a member of the Environmental Services team, Morales takes his responsibility to keep the facility clean and shiny seriously, often seen riding elevators from floor to floor with his industrial scrubber. But there’s another part of his job that matters just as much to him — the opportunity to bring joy.
“All year, I just try to be smiling and be friendly like Santa Claus is,” Morales said with a chuckle.
Though spreading cheer is a year-round goal, Morales ramps up his efforts during the holiday season. Every December, the Metropolitan team visits with students at SAISD’s Booker T. Washington Elementary School, bringing treats and merriment. Santa takes time out of his busy pre-flight schedule to join them – and he bears a striking resemblance to Morales.
That’s because for this now-annual event, Morales trades his scrubber for a sleigh and his Cowboys scrub cap for a Santa hat to lift the spirits of children and staff at the school. It’s become a tradition that he now looks forward to just as much as the students do.
“I want to spread the joy of Christmas and make everyone happy and feel good,” said Morales, reflecting on why he first put on the suit. “We need some of that now.”
That simple goal to make people happy becomes reality when he sees the children’s reactions.
“Just to see how they light up and have smiles on their face because they believe there is Santa,” he shared when asked what he loves most about visiting the school. “They’re at that age where they believe.”
For Morales, joy and cheer are part of the care experience every day, both within the hospital’s walls and beyond. He says his favorite part of working at the hospital is simple: “Seeing people go home in good spirits.” Whether he’s polishing floors or putting on his Santa suit, Albert knows his work is a meaningful contribution to making that possible. His commitment reflects the spirit of Methodist Hospital Metropolitan, where every team member plays a vital role in caring for others.