December 23, 2005

Puppy Pals deliver

While Santa Claus and his elves are busy tuning up the sleigh, putting the
final touches on countless toys and preparing the reindeer for their Christmas Eve journey, they took some time out of their hectic schedules Dec. 13 to deliver special gifts to young patients on Ellison 17 and 18, at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children's Pediatric Hematology and Oncology unit, and at the Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center. The presents — stuffed puppies and Beanie Babies — were supplied by the MGH Blood Donor Center as part of its annual Puppy Pals campaign, which gives December blood donors the opportunity to sign and personalize the gift tags attached to each toy. Some individuals who physically were unable to donate blood but still wanted to contribute to the project donated a wide variety of Beanie Babies for distribution, resulting in each child receiving his or her own unique gift.

The Puppy Pals campaign is one of several promotional events held by the Blood Donor Center to entice donors to give the most important gift of all during the holiday season — much-needed blood. For more information or to make an appointment to donate blood or platelets, call (617) 726-8177.

From left, Santa (a.k.a. Bob Arnesen), Kira Corning and Santa's helper, Taylor Poucel