By ED FINKELSTEIN
Publisher Emeritus
Christmas smiles on the faces of some 60 children in Mercy Children’s Hospital on Christmas Day were the highlight of a massive toy drive by UFCW Local 655, President David Cook proudly announced.
A month-long toy drive by the union resulted in hundreds of toys being donated to the hospital to ensure a measure of happiness for youngsters who had to be hospitalized on the event they cherish most – the visit from Santa Claus on Christmas.
SANTA VISITS TWICE
“Many of our younger kids worry that Santa will not leave presents for them because they aren’t sleeping in their own beds on Christmas Eve,” said Alberta Zenardi Lee, Mercy’s child life manager.
“To eliminate this worry, Santa visits us on the morning of Christmas Eve, going room-to-room to tell each child that he knows they are in the hospital. He reassures them that he will return with presents after they go to sleep. The Local 655 gifts are distributed to the kids’ rooms on Christmas Eve after they go to sleep.”
THANKING 655 FOR ITS EFFORTS
Leftover toys not given to children on Christmas Day are distributed throughout the year for events like celebrating birthdays, celebrating the end of chemotherapy and providing rewards following scary procedures, she said.
“We appreciate the men and women of UFCW 655 for helping us provide some Christmas joy to our Mercy Kids,” Zenardi Lee said.
Added Cook, “It’s a joy for our union to be able to ensure so many youngsters don’t feel left out because of their personal health crises. We want to extend a joyful ‘THANK YOU’ to our members, our affiliates and organizations who donated toys and dollars to buy even more toys.”
This is the union’s third year at ensuring children at Mercy Children’s Hospital don’t miss Santa.
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