MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
a division of the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Troop D Headquarters - 3131 East Kearney Street - Springfield, MO 65803
News Release
For further information please contact:
Sergeant Jason M. Pace
(417) 895-6868
D232017
November 22, 2017
EMPHASIS:
11th Annual Corporal John A. "Jay" Sampietro Jr. Toy Drive Kickoff
Captain Juan Villanueva, commanding officer of Troop D, Springfield, announces the kickoff of the 11th Annual Corporal John A. "Jay" Sampietro Jr. Toy Drive. This toy drive, in remembrance of Corporal Sampietro, who died in the line of duty in 2005, will begin on Wednesday, November 22, 2017, and will conclude on Wednesday, December 20, 2017.
The toy drive is a cooperative effort between the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, the Children’s Miracle Network of Cox Health, and the citizens we serve. The toy drive is also designed to brighten the holiday for children who are forced to spend the Christmas season in the hospital. Troopers will personally deliver the donated toys to children in the Cox Health Pediatric Unit in Springfield on December 20, 2017.
Toy donations may be made at the Springfield Krispy Kreme Doughnuts location, 3860 S. Campbell Avenue, Springfield, Missouri. Anyone who donates a new, unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more will receive a free, dozen original Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts. Toy needs include coloring/activity books, board games, Hot Wheels, action figures, age appropriate DVD movies, small handheld electronic games, Legos, art supplies, blocks, or infant toys. Additional toy drop-off locations in Springfield include: Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop D Headquarters, Ferrell-Duncan Clinic, The Turner Center, and the Cox South Medical Center-West Tower.
CoxHealth also meets the needs of children in the hospital through its Child Life Services, which helps ease anxieties and answer questions for them and their families. While the toy drive caters to the children admitted to CoxHealth Children’s Hospital during the holidays, Child Life Services works to put a smile on both the children’s and their parents’ faces throughout the year. To support Child Life Services as part of the 11
th
Annual Corporal John A. “Jay” Sampietro Jr. Toy Drive, please contact Racheal Adegboyega, director of Sponsor Relations, at
Racheal.Adegboyega@coxhealth.com
.
“This toy drive has proven to be a great way to honor Cpl. Sampietro's memory,” said Capt. Villanueva. “The Patrol is honored to participate and to bring a little bit of joy and happiness to sick children who are in the hospital during the Christmas holidays."
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