MACON, Ga. — The Bibb County Sheriff's Office took a turn playing Santa today for some kids to the Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital at Atrium Health Navicent on Thursday.
They delivered toys to the hospitals Holly Jolly Shoppe.
"It's so wonderful for them, you know, these sweet kids. Nobody plans to be sick, or injured or in the hospital, especially during the holidays. It's just a sad time to be away from home so donations like this just life the spirits of our kids so much," Child life specialist Heather Trescott said.
Employees at the hospital turns a room into a toy store for the parents of children at the hospital to come and make sure their kids Christmas wishes come true.
It is a surprise for the kids on Christmas morning and gives parents once less thing to worry about as they help their young ones recover.
"It brings tears to us because we've had so many families that didn't know how they were going to figure out Christmas because they've been in the hospital or families that got sent home last minute," Trescott said.
She says it can be hard to figure out how the holidays are going to come together in these situations and the team at Atrium Health feels blessed to be able to help in any way.
Sheriff David Davis and other Bibb County deputies came to Atrium and dropped off a few boxes of toys specifically from the kids wish lists as well as other toys.
Sheriff David Davis says they want patients and their families to know they are cared for.
"Well we just want them to know that we care about them," Sheriff Davis said. "I know we have patients here probably from all over the state, probably all over the southeast. So we want them to know that we are a caring community and that the Bibb County Sheriff's Office cares about them and that we're here to help them and serve them any way that we can.
He also said he wants them to have as good a stay in Macon as they can and to know that their kids are well thought of.
If you would like to donate toys to a recovering child, donations can be dropped off in the lobby of Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital on 700 Spring Street.
For the safety of patients, donations must be new and unwrapped.
Atrium Health has also provided an Amazon Wishlist of items.
They ask you do not gift food, latex balloons, religious items and toy weapons.
For more information, contact the Child Life Department at ChildLifeMacon@AtriumHealth.org or 478-633-7219.
If you’d like to choose your own gift, here are some ideas:
Infant & Toddler
• Activity mats
• Blankets
• Blocks
• Board books
• Stuffed animals
• Musical/light-up toys
• Pacifiers
• Pajama sets
• Rattles
• Shape sorters
• Sippy cups
• Teethers
• Wooden puzzles
Pre-School & School Age
• Action figures
• Baby dolls
• Barbies
• Cars/Trucks
• Colored pencils
• Coloring books
• Craft kits (Slime, beads, etc.)
• Dinosaurs
• Hot Wheels
• Legos
• Markers
• Paint sets
• Play Dough and Play Dough tools
• Princess toys
Pre-Teen & Teenage
• Adult coloring books
• Art sets
• Bath sets
• Card games
• Fidget toys
• Fleece blankets
• Gift cards
• Journals
• Make-up sets
• Nail kits
• Sporting goods (Basketball, Football, etc.)
• Word puzzles