December 28, 2021
Making spirits bright: Community donations allow Mary Bridge Children’s to give holiday gifts to every patient in hospital
TACOMA, Wash. – 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.
“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. For more information about family-centered care, visit marybridge.org/mary-bridge-experience. To learn about volunteering or donating to Mary Bridge Children’s, visit marybridge.org/about/giving.
About Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
Founded in 1955, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital is the state-designated Level II Pediatric Trauma Center for Western Washington, offering comprehensive care and resources for critically ill and injured children, and is the only pediatric hospital in Southwest Washington. Mary Bridge Children’s also provides primary, specialty and urgent care services at its outpatient centers and clinics across the South Sound, including Tacoma, Puyallup, Gig Harbor, Olympia, Auburn, Covington, Maple Valley, Federal Way, Bonney Lake and Poulsbo.
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Network is more than a place for children to heal. It’s a place for them to grow and thrive. A place for families to come for solutions and support. A place where medical expertise and passion for children and families work together in perfect balance. Mary Bridge Children’s serves children and families, regardless of ability to pay, thanks to generous contributions to the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation.
Mary Bridge Children’s is a part of MultiCare Health System, a community-focused, not-for-profit health system based in Tacoma, Wash. For more information about Mary Bridge Children’s, visit marybridge.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or our Kite Strings blog.
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