Hospital sponsors Christmas shopping spree
Confusion, excitement and disbelief all flashed on the faces of students from the Communities In Schools program Saturday at this year’s Shop with a Doc.
Once again, Specialists Hospital Shreveport generously donated a $300 shopping spree to fifty of the neediest children Volunteers of America serves. The shopping adventure was a surprise to the children, who couldn’t figure out why they were at Target.
“I thought maybe we were going to eat first,” said Toyreyun, 10.
But it didn’t take long for them to figure out how to use their gift cards. Each child was paired with a Specialist volunteer to do their shopping, and by the end of the morning, 12 new bikes lined the front of the store. And shopping carts were piled high with new shoes, clothes, dolls and gifts.
Tears filled some of the volunteers’ eyes as they heard stories of children who recently lost a parent and watched others put basics like bread and coffee in their carts.
“At Christmas it’s our pleasure to share joy,” Dr. William Overdyke said. “We look forward to it every year.”
Quintoria, 9, was especially happy for the chance to buy a robe for her mom and clothes for her new baby brother.
“I love everybody that came,” she said. “I thank them all.”
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