NEW ORLEANS - Marylandian -- Heart of Hospice – New Orleans hosted its first annual toy drive to benefit pediatric patients and their families.

Socks, stuffed animals, toys and books were just a few of the requested items for Heart of Hospice's first annual Angel Tree. At the start of the toy drive, the Angel Tree was decorated in a collection of gift tags, each tag listing an item requested by a pediatric patient, aged 2 to 20, or their family. Members of the Heart of Hospice team volunteered to select an item to purchase, ensuring that every holiday wish was fulfilled and making Christmas possible for all patients and families.

The Kids at Heart toy drive was organized by Ranada DeJean, Health Information Coordinator, to help relieve some stress on families during the busy holiday season.

Wendy LaCaze, Senior Administrator for Heart of Hospice, shares, "The holidays can be hectic for everyone, especially families with children on services. Delivering gifts from the toy drive is just another way Heart of Hospice hopes to help families focus on each other without the stress of shopping this holiday season."

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Heart of Hospice serves all eligible patients, regardless of age or circumstance. Their pediatric program, Kids at Heart, provides palliative and hospice care to children with life-threatening illnesses and support for their loved ones. The program caters to the unique needs of children and, through the election of the hospice benefit, allows for continued curative treatment.

Heart of Hospice's Kids at Heart program is a member of the Gulf States Pediatric Palliative Care Consortium, a division of the Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. The Gulf States Pediatric Palliative Care Consortium is committed to ensuring pediatric patients and their families have access to comprehensive support through the entire duration of serious illness.

To find out more about Heart of Hospice or Kids at Heart, please visit: www.heartofhospice.net .