PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Dozens of first responders spent their Saturday bringing holiday joy to children in need. The Plymouth Community Ambulance Association partnered with several emergency service agencies to deliver toys to patients at two hospitals, including St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Feltonville.
With sirens blaring, 30 emergency vehicles came flying down Front Street and Erie Avenue, with Santa Claus in tow, for the Operation Christmas Kids Toy Run.
“This is a beautiful event. This is the 15th year that we've been having the Operation Christmas Kids Toy Run,” said Thomas Trojansky, chief of the Ambulance Association, who has been spearheading this event for all that time.
Over the last two months, community police, firefighters and emergency medical workers from all over the area came together to collect gifts for young children who are spending the Christmas holiday in the hospital.
All the first responders pack toys into their ambulances and firetrucks, and lead a procession to drop them off.
The group stopped at Bryn Mawr Hospital, and then to St. Christopher’s for the last toy run.
Tyler Shugarts, chief transformation officer at St. Christopher’s, says it brings families joy and relief.
“I don't think it would come to anyone's surprise, but it just has such a tremendous impact on our families who are here with us, unfortunately, over the holiday season,” he said.
Trojansky says hospital staff often remind him of the long-lasting impact the event has on their patients.
“They said if it wasn't for the toy ride, Operation Christmas Kids, that they wouldn't have gifts throughout the whole year for children — not only that are here over the holidays, but could be July, could be September they're in here getting a surgery or they have a potentially terminal illness — they wouldn't be able to give gifts to these children and brighten their day and put a smile on the face.”
