Police are appealing for help from the community to support sick children this Christmas.
Murray River Police District will today (Friday 13 November 2020) launch the 2020 Christmas Appeal in conjunction with Albury Wodonga Health.
Police are asking members of the community to dig deep and donate toys and other items to the Children's Ward at Albury Hospital.
Donated items will be given to patients on Christmas Day. Any remaining gifts will be saved to donate to children throughout the year and brighten up the day of any child who might be going through a hard time.
Murray River Police District Acting Inspector Troy Martin will be joined by Paediatric Ward Nursing Unit Manager Samantha Peet at Albury Hospital later on today to launch the appeal.
Acting Inspector Martin said after a tough year, police are looking forward to working with health services to support kids in need.
"Christmas is a time for people to come together, and we have had a particularly hard year with borders closing and the pandemic at play, so if we can take this opportunity to brighten the day of sick children then I think it's a job well done," Acting Inspector Martin said.
"Police will be at the hospital on Christmas Day to support those children and parents who may be going through a hard time, and we encourage the community to get involved and help out by providing small gifts."
Nursing Unit Manager Samantha Peet expressed her thanks to everyone involved.
"We're incredibly grateful to our wonderful community and to NSW Police for supporting us again with the toy drive," Ms Peet said.
"2020 has been a particularly tough year and to bring a cheer to the kids who are spending Christmas in hospital makes such a difference.
"We'd like to thank everybody who donates to this appeal, it means so much to the children, their families and staff," Ms Peet said.
Gifts can be donated up until Christmas Eve at Albury Police Station and will be presented to children in the ward by police officers on Christmas Day and in the week around Christmas
Suggested gifts include travel or memory games, card packs, Mini LOL dolls, small lego packs, colouring in packs and pencils, bubbles, activity books, sticker books and craft kits.
The hospital has requested that any gift be left unwrapped, in new packaging, to allow for the most age-appropriate and suitable gift to be given out to each child in a COVID-safe manner.
