The children and families who will be spending their Christmas in hospital this year will be getting a special visit later today.
Members of the Department of Public Safety Peace Officers Toy Drive will be dropping off gifts at the Moncton and Georges Dumont Hospitals.
All of the toys, clothing and gift cards are donated by the public.
Jon Breau says he remembers how happy it made the families last year, which was the first year of the drive, “One family had just received the news that they would be spending Christmas in hospital. At the time, we were going through treatment with our son. I handed the 10-year-old a gift, and to just see the smile on his face, made my day.”
Both Breau and Scott Judson, who organize the toy drive can relate to how these families feel. They both have children who have been in and out of hospital with medical complications.
“My daughter also has some health complications. So to do something to help out the families and kids, during the holiday season, it is pretty special,” Judson says.
Breau says, with his son going through chemotherapy, they were lucky to be discharged for Christmas last year, “But some kids and parents weren’t so lucky. To give back to the communities to help them deal with the stress they are dealing with is a good feeling.”
Peace Officers Toy Drive 2019
Judson adds, one of the neatest gifts this year was from a woman who runs mini horse therapy. She came in donate a gift card for a child who might need it.
They received donations for children anywhere between the ages of newborn to 15 or 16 years old. They also received donations of Tim Horton’s cards as well, which both Judson and Breau say can really help the parents out, who may just need a break to go get a coffee.
Judson says, “The kids and the parents, as well as the staff are always over the moon to know someone is thinking about them at this time of year.”
(Peace Officers Toy Drive 2019)
