Nov. 14, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan
More than 50 cars and motorcycles convened to deliver toys for patients at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Bayside.
The Nov. 12 event marked the 25th annual Toy Run held by the East Coast Car Association. The group gathered in Forest Park before heading to the hospital, where they filled up large bins with toys for the young patients.
Santa was on site to deliver the toys to the hospital’s young patients. Photo courtesy of St. Mary’s
The association also presented the hospital with a donation towards their programs and services. Since 1999, the East Coast Car Association has raised over $248,000 for St. Mary’s.
“We are grateful to the East Coast Car Association for their continued generosity over the past twenty-five years,”said Dr. Edwin Simpser, president and CEO of St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children. “This event has brought so much joy and excitement to the children at St. Mary’s for over two decades, and we are grateful for their support in making the holidays special for these children and their families.”
The East Coast Car Association has held their annual Toy Run for 25 years. Photo courtesy of St. Mary’s
According to St. Mary’s, more than 90% of patients require a level of care that exceeds what the patients’ families or Medicaid can cover. Funds raised from philanthropic events have a big impact on the care that is able to St. Mary’s offer.
They offer a range of services to children with medically complex conditions, mostly through their in-patient hospital facility that provides long-term and rehabilitative care. St. Mary’s also offers home care services and community programs tailored to the needs of their patients.