Dozens of boxes full of toys made their way to Austin’s Dell Children’s Hospital this morning, courtesy of Operation Blue Santa.
Santa and his reindeer could not be there since many of the kids are too sick to risk having the animals nearby. So volunteers from the Austin Police Department made sure there was enough holiday cheer to go around.
To deliver the presents, APD Chief Art Acevedo had to put on surgical-like scrubs – complete with gloves and a facemask. A host of volunteers pushed a couple of carts full of toys right behind him.
Acevedo jokingly prompted the volunteers to sing: “You ready?” he asked. “We wish you a Merry Christmas. Everybody ready? If I don’t see your lips moving you will be pepper-sprayed.”
Every child received at least one toy and a teddy bear.
