Morrow County Hospital Associates Continue Decades-Long Tradition of Brightening Spirits of Local Foster Children

For over a decade, OhioHealth Morrow County Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to the community by ensuring children in foster care experience the joy of the holiday season. Through its annual toy drive, the hospital and its associates have provided gifts for more than 500 children over the past 10 years.

The cherished tradition supports the 40 to 50 children, ranging from infants to 18-year-olds, who are typically in foster care during Christmastime. Kirsten Osborn, executive assistant at Morrow County Hospital, has managed the relationship with Morrow County’s Family and Children Services for the last three years, organizing the effort to bring smiles to children's faces. That involves creating tags for each child labelled with their gift wish list and hanging them on a tree in the hospital. Associates then pick the tags to sponsor children, ensuring every child receives at least three presents to open. If there are any children whose tags don’t get pulled, Osborn goes shopping for them out of her own pocket to make sure no child gets left behind.

This year, the community's generosity was on full display, with over 350 gifts donated. The hospital even hosted a wrapping party to prepare the presents.

While this is joyful time for associates to give back, it also pulls on their heart strings when considering the basic needs of these children. Many gift requests are not for toys, but for essential items. “Some of these kids ask for a toothbrush, a new hairbrush, sheets for their bed,” explained Osborn. “They’re asking for things that we look at as necessities. Many of these kids have put their wants off to the side.”

Osborn delivered the gifts for the children’s Christmas party last week, but emphasized there’s still plenty of ways to give back this season. “There is an elderly community out there that still needs support just as much as these children," she said. Simple items like socks and blankets can make a significant difference and can be dropped off at Job and Family Services anytime.