FESTIVE cheer was on offer for youngsters being cared for at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital and Acorns Children’s Hospice thanks to kind-hearted members of Worcester’s policing team.
Officers on shift during Christmas Day decided this year they would not buy gifts for each other as part of their normal ‘Secret Santa’ present exchange but instead donate gifts for the children who are spending time in hospital or at the hospice.
The heart-warming idea quickly spread through Worcester police station on Castle Street and the West Mercia Police force with individuals donating gifts for children aged from birth to 18-years-old.
Seeing how keen staff were to help, the teams wrote letters to local shops and put out an appeal on social media for friends and family to ‘dig deep and donate a gift or two to the children’ and are overwhelmed with the response.
Local businesses and members of the public also donated their second hand toys, new toys and one lady even knitted numerous toys. Officers collected all the donations as well as having donations dropped into the front counter.
The appeal saw more than 100 individually wrapped gifts including toys, teddy bears, rocking horses, crayons, colouring books, essentials like dummies, clothes and muslin cloths delivered on the big day.
Officers even donated a second hand television and Xbox for the children to play with on the ward who not allowed home for Christmas this year.
Sgt Brian Simpkins, one of the officers who helped to organise the collection of gifts and visit, said: “We wanted to do something nice for the children that were in the hospital or hospice for Christmas this year.
“We were overwhelmed by the response from staff, local businesses and members of the public who heard about what we were doing and I want to give my heartfelt thanks to all the staff, businesses and members of the public who were so generous in giving.”
“As officers we chose to work the Christmas period protecting the public from harm however we feel not only for the children who are away from their homes at this festive time of year but also their families and friends.”
Sgt Martin May, who was also involved in coordinating the collection of gifts from officers and local community and businesses said: “A number of us from the shift delivered the presents to the children on Christmas Day and it was touching to see how the children responded to receiving a present from our officers.
“We are glad we could spread a little bit of Christmas cheer. We definitely want to do something similar again next year.”
