NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 14, 2022
TOY EXPRESS FRIDAY, December 16 Arriving at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital at 10 am
“First Responders Children’s Foundation is excited to partner with the Grand Rapids and Kent County first responder community on this 2022 Toy Express event to bring holiday cheer to the children and families at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital,” said First Responders Children’s Foundation President and CEO Jillian Crane. “First responders put their lives on the line every day, and we want them to know how much we value their selfless service. Our annual Toy Express is one small way we can give back and help first responder agencies strengthen the bonds between them and the communities they serve.”
First Responders Children’s Foundation’s (FRCF) Toy Express is a national holiday program delivering toys to children in 150 cities across the United States. Toys are sent to public safety agencies and hospitals to help first responders build positive relationships in the communities they serve.
FRCF was founded in 2001 in the immediate aftermath of September 11th for the 800 surviving children who lost a first responder parent on that tragic day. Since then, FRCF has grown to be a national non-profit focusing on four key program areas: scholarships for children of first responders injured or killed in the line of duty; Financial Assistance Grants/Line of Duty Death Bereavement Support; a Mental Health Resiliency Program; and First Responder Community Engagement.
The City of Grandville Police and Fire Departments along with our partners from throughout Kent County will form a “Toy Express” to bring gifts to the patients at Helen Devos Children’s Hospital. The route of the express is:
• From the Grand Rapids Community College Parking ramp – turn left on Ransom
• Turn left on Lyon
• Turn right on Bostwick
• Turn right on Michigan
• Turn right into the Hospital (target arrival time, 1000)
We appreciate all that FRCF has done for our community. On National First Responders Day (October 28), the Foundation honored many first responders from around our country. Erin Coalliar RN BSN was honored for her outstanding service as the lead transportation RN for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. She is pictured below (second from the left) in a photo from the FRCF Facebook Page of all of the honorees.
Original source can be found here.
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