Operation: Santa’s Soldiers is Collecting Toys for Bronson’s Children’s Hospital: Here’s How You Can Help

Michigan Army National Guard Helps Make the Holidays Brighter for Kids at Bronson

When Sergeant First Class Derek Gallegos was 18, his mother was paralyzed. A local business adopted his family (including his three younger siblings), to ensure they had gifts under the tree that year.

That generosity stuck with him, driving his passion to pay it forward to other families in similar circumstances.

Operation: Santa’s Soldiers, with the support of the Michigan Army National Guard and Western Michigan University ROTC, ensures that hundreds of pediatric patients and their siblings at Bronson Children’s Hospital will have gifts this holiday season.

In its second year, this toy drive has grown to 18 locations. Read on to find the spot nearest you collecting new, unwrapped gifts.

How Operation: Santa’s Soldiers Works

Local businesses have signed up as donation spots for toy collections in 2024. Here’s how they get delivered to kids at Bronson:

1 – Drop off new, unwrapped toys at one of 18 locations in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Portage, or Schoolcraft. Toys are accepted through December 16, 2024.

2 – The Michigan Army National Guard delivers the toys to Bronson Children’s Hospital on December 17. Toys are then organized for parents to “shop” (for free) for pediatric patients and their siblings.

3 – Volunteers wrap the gifts on December 18 and 19 in Bronson’s Holiday Workshop.

4 – Kids receive some amazing holiday gifts courtesy of our SW Michigan community, Michigan Army National Guard and WMU ROTC.

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Operation: Santa’s Soldiers Contact Info

Interested in learning more or helping Operation: Santa’s Soldiers grow?

Contact SFC Derek Gallegos for more information.

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