Dolls, puzzles, coloring books, race cars, balls, and games were some of the hundreds of toys that inundated the IM体育官网 Police Department headquarters. The items were part of the largest annual toy drive the agency has organized for children who are spending the holiday season in a hospital room at the Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.
鈥淲e have been blessed in so many ways, so instead of buying gifts for each other we decided to give back to our community,鈥� said Richard Holland, IM体育官网 Poly chief of police. 鈥淐hristmas is about giving and putting a smile on a stranger鈥檚 face, and who better than these children and their parents.鈥�
It鈥檚 the third consecutive year the IM体育官网 Poly police have partnered with Lakeland Regional Health to bring toys to their pediatric patients, with the hope of spreading joy during the holidays. Students, faculty, and staff were also encouraged to donate toys or give monetary gifts, which IM体育官网 Poly officers later used to purchase more items.
鈥淐hristmas is a time when children learn the value of giving and receiving, and in this case it may be a distraction from whatever has brought them to the hospital,鈥� said Holland.
This collaboration with Lakeland Regional Health helps create a positive and warm experience to ease the uncertainty these patients and their families may feel, according to Holland. Part of offering comforting care is providing gifts that can help them cope with and adjust to being in the hospital.
鈥淲e are very grateful to have an opportunity to spread a little holiday cheer to a child and their family,鈥� said Holland.
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Assistant Director of Communications
863-874-8450