Years ago, Ascension “Ace” Santoyo, a physical therapist at Community Regional Medical Center's Burn Unit, began recruiting family members and friends from his church to sponsor and donate gifts for underprivileged children at Hidalgo Elementary School in Fresno. With the help of physical therapist Lorrie Wagner and others, this gift-giving program has grown each year.

Almost 12 years later, the co-workers in the acute rehab department, pediatrics and the Burn Unit at Community Regional has taken up this opportunity to donate and spread the holiday cheer.
 
This year, 46 children at Hidalgo Elementary will receive warm winter clothes, shoes, toys, backpacks and games.
 
For those who volunteer to sponsor a child, they receive a number with information about the name, likes, and sizes of each kid ahead of time.

It takes a whole team to collect all the gifts and coordinate getting them all over to the school staff to hand out at Hidalgo Elementary. But all this effort is worth it after seeing the joy on the faces of the children. I'm proud to be part of a team and community who cares for both the health and well-being of others.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Brenna Hughes, M.A., CCC-SLP
Acute Care Speech-Language Pathologist
Community Regional Medical Center