Spreading holiday cheer: Santa’s Workshop brings gifts to Mary Bridge patients and families

The holidays are a little brighter for families at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, thanks to child life specialists and volunteers who turned into elves this week, distributing more than 1,500 new toys from Santa’s Workshop to patients spending Christmas in the hospital.

Child Life Services team and volunteers at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital were hard at work in Santa’s Workshop

“This wouldn’t be possible without the generous donations and support from our community and volunteers,” said Jeff Poltawsky, president and market leader at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Network. “Thank you to all who gave and volunteered during this busy season to make the holidays a little more special for our patients and families at Mary Bridge.”

Santa’s Workshop is a holiday tradition that takes place every year at Mary Bridge Children’s. Child life specialists and volunteers organize hundreds of toys and games donated to the hospital, browse the workshop for items on patient and sibling wish lists, package the toys in festive bags, and make special deliveries to each patient’s room.

“Community donations not only make it possible for kids to receive gifts during the holidays, but also for the child life services department to have toys, activities and games available year-round,” said Julie Hertzog, supervisor of child life services at Mary Bridge Children’s. “These items are vital tools that our team uses to normalize the hospital environment, promote growth and development, and help patients learn to master expressing their feelings and health care experiences. We’re grateful for the community support that helps us carry out our mission every day — partnering for healing and a healthy future.”

Santa’s Workshop is one of the ways that Mary Bridge Children’s strives to care for patients beyond their medical needs. Learn more about volunteering or donating to Mary Bridge Children’s.