SPOKANE, Wash — Some local police officers brought some holiday cheer to children and families spending Christmas in the hospital this year.
Employees and board members of Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane lined up on Monday morning to accept toy donations from the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.
This year’s donation was the largest donation the Children’s Hospital has seen since the tradition began six years ago.
“We’re grateful that this continues to grow every year, because the need continues to grow as well,” said Sergeant Jared Reneau, CDAPD Public Information Officer.
This year, the department partnered with Les Schwab Tires, who contributed a $15,000 donation, as well as multiple bags of toys.
“It’s one of those events that, unfortunately, impacts everybody, and our officers, folks we work with, have been impacted by having sick family members during Christmas time,” said Sergeant Reneau.
Tony Schuh is the Family Resource Coordinator at Sacred Heart and was nicknamed by his coworkers as this year’s “Mayor of Christmas” for his efforts with the toy drive,
“We have kids from an infant to 18-years-old in our area, so they all need it,” said Schuh.
Schuh said the partnership between the hospital and CDAPD began years ago as a passion project.
“Shane from the police department, he and his wife had a baby, and they needed some medical help here with us. They were in our care for many, many weeks. It warmed out hearts we were able to do something for them and then they started this toy drive for us,” he said. “Shane and his family want every child to be spoiled on Christmas.”
He said the annual toy drive never fails to bring much needed joy to the families going through difficult times in the hospital during the holidays.
“We have families who are very stressed this time of year and haven’t been able to go Christmas shopping, so we have the kids Christmas shopping in our “Santa Store” and they’re able to have wrapped presents on Christmas Day along with stockings from Santa,” said Schuh.
The Santa Store is stocked with gifts provided by the toy drive so patients and parents can shop for Christmas gifts without even needing to leave the hospital.
CDAPD said they are also accepting donations for the annual toy drive.
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