FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 30, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11
St. John’s Episcopal Hospital hosts annual children’s holiday event
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
More than 300 children received holiday
presents Monday at the St. John’s
Episcopal Hospital annual toy grab-andgo
event in Far Rockaway.
Th rough its recently established St.
John’s ICARE Foundation, the gift s were
generously donated by hospital staff , the
public, and the global toy and entertainment
company Spin Master which sent
Chase — the German shepherd from the
popular children’s television show “Paw
Patrol” — who was on hand to meet, greet
and pose for photos with the children, and
to distribute presents and books. Chase
made a surprise visit to the St. John’s
Medica lGroup’s pediatric practice located
at 495 Beach 19th St.
“It brings us great joy to know that we
are able to give back to the communities
we serve, especially during the holidays,” St.
John’s ICARE Foundation Executive Director
Nancy Leghart said. “Th e feeling that comes
over you when seeing the looks of joy on the
faces of children when they receive presents
is priceless because you know that you made
a positive impact on someone’s life.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic in mind,
parents and guardians were able to register
for the annual toy distribution through
an online form that allotted them a select
time to arrive and pick up their gift s.
“Th is event serves as an example of
how St. John’s Episcopal Hospital is more
than just a hospital,” St. John’s ICARE
Foundation President Renee Hastick-
Motes said. “We are an organization that
cares about the whole person. Having
good health is more than a physical thing,
there is also a social component to it as
well. I am glad that we are able to not only
address the health needs of our community
but partner and support those other
social determinants of health.”
Photo courtesy of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
In addition to raising donations for this
year’s Children’s Holiday Annual event, St.
John’s ICARE Foundation recently raised
$20,000 to provide Doula Care services at
no cost to women who give birth at St John’s.
Chase of “Paw Patrol” greets children to St. John’s Episcopal Church’s annual children’s holiday event.
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