Lowe’s employees and Guardians of the Children donate toys to pediatric patients

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Pediatric patients at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center were the benefactors of a toy drive conducted during the holiday season by Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse and the Salt City Chapter of the Guardians of the Children, an international organization dedicated to children and the prevention of child abuse.

Celestina Walker (Lowe’s) presents Jaxon Guise, a patient in Hutch Regional Pediatrics, with a toy as his parents Zach and Sydney Guise look on. Photo courtesy of HRMC.

Representatives of the two groups visited the hospital Friday morning to deliver approximately 200 toys. While at the hospital, they took time to visit patients and spread a little Christmas cheer.

Sam White, assistant manager of the Hutchinson Lowe’s store, said the donation included games, dolls, stuffed animals and toy trucks.

“Lowe’s has undertaken a project during each of the past nine years to benefit children hospitalized at HRMC,” White said.

“Toys can be an important part of the recovery process for young patients,” Jill White, RN, BSN, director of Patient Care Services at the hospital, said.

“Hospitalization may be especially difficult during the holiday season and in particular, for young children,” Ken Johnson, president and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said.