Loudoun Sheriff's Office Brings Toys to Hospitalized Children

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Loudoun Sheriff Mike Chapman joined members of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Motor Unit to deliver the toys and hundreds of stuffed animals to children in the pediatric unit at Inova Loudoun Hospital on Saturday, Dec. 17, according to a LCSO announcement.

The Loudoun Sheriff’s Office partnered with Cole's Closet, a nonprofit organization, to help collect donated toys to fill “closets” with toys for children while they are at the hospital during the holidays. Through the kindness of Loudoun residents, the LCSO collected 900 new toys and hundreds of stuffed animals during the toy drive and fill-the-box campaign.

“We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the community to help with our first-ever partnership with Cole’s Closet,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman. “The spirit of giving is alive and well in Loudoun County,” added Sheriff Chapman.

Cole’s Closet was created in 2002 by Ellen and Steve Tomczyk after they lost their six-month old son to an undiagnosed brain disease. The Tomczyks spent four months in and out of area hospitals where they experienced firsthand the anxiety and fear families face when a child is hospitalized. Ellen and Steve began a toy drive at a family holiday party one year after Cole passed away and since then they have donated over 16,000 new toys to six area hospitals.

For more information, visit the Cole’s Closet website.

Photo courtesy of Loudoun County Sheriff's Office