HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE IN WHITESTONE

There was plenty of joy at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children as patients awaited the decorated van bearing donated gifts on December 21. “At a time of the year when so many of us are celebrating, it is beautiful to have the party come to the patients,” said Chloe Hodgson, the Director of Recreation at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Queens, a 179-bed state-of-the-art facility located at 157-15 19th Avenue in Whitestone. “Our Grand Van is our answer to Santa’s Sleigh. It brings gifts to children who cannot go out to the toy store this season.”

The Grand’s recipients are patients at St Mary’s Children’s Hospital in Bayside, which cares for children with special needs and disabilities, providing them intensive rehabilitation, specialized care, and education. “As a community-based institution, we are happy to have St. Mary’s Hospital as our partner. We both share a mission of providing personal attention and the best care to our clients,” said hospital liaison Heather Liezerson. At this year’s toy drive, St. Mary’s CEO Edwin F. Simpser, MD was joined by Council Member Paul Vallone, who represents northeast Queens.

“We are proud to partner with St. Mary’s and be joined by Councilman Vallone in this special event,” said The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Queens Administrator Peretz Stein “Our facility, like all of our care facilities across the state, participate in a variety of charitable events throughout the year, benefiting the communities in which we live and work.”

Based in Whitestone, The Grand Healthcare System offers customized rehabilitation and nursing services to patients who require either short- or long-term care. Its state-of-the-art facilities, which are located at multiple sites across New York, feature certified instructors who provide exceptional clinical care to help residents achieve their wellness goals. All sites offer carefully curated entertaining and dining options, and tranquil grounds for optimal recuperation. For more information, visit thegrand.bpssolutions.com/utica.