Employees of the Newport News Sheriff’s Office were excited to help make Christmas a little brighter for children with cancer in Hampton Roads.
The NNSO held a toy drive to support the Wes Strong Foundation, created to carry on the giving spirit of 12-year-old Wes Pak. He passed away in 2018 after his 7-year journey with stage 4 neuroblastoma.
The toy giveaway started with Wes in 2011, when he gave his toys to other children at the hospital where he was being treated.
Boxes were set up for staff to drop off their donations by drive coordinator Megan Batts of the NNSO’s Accounts Payable.
Hearing of the toy drive, the manager of Jared, the Galleria of Jewelry in Newport News, also donated dozens of stuffed animals bought by customers during the store’s fundraiser. Megan went to the store to accept three large bags of toys.
The Wes Strong Foundation will make sure the gifts are distributed in time for Christmas to childhood cancer patients at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.