A local home health care business is working to bring holiday cheer to hospitalized children by holding a toy and donation drive.

Gentle Touch Home Health Care is asking for the public to donate toys and money to be given to Children’s Hospital for The King’s Daughters next month.

Sueduka Gibbs, the human resources manager for the home health care group, said the community has done a lot for Gentle Touch, so owner Beverly Britt, who grew up in Suffolk, and the rest of the staff want to give back anyway they can.

“The community has been so good to us,” she said. “Whatever we can do, we’d like to do.”

Gentle Touch, which is located in the Washington Square Mall, is asking for monetary donations for the hospital, as well as new and gently used toys for the children at CHKD.

Donations will be taken until the second week of December, and monetary donations can be given to any office member. Checks should be filled out with CHKD as the recipient.

“We’re asking for whatever you can give, whether it’s $5 or $10,” Gibbs said.

She said Gentle Touch’s goal is to raise $2,000 to give to CHKD.

Gibbs said last holiday season, the group did an angel tree, but this year, they chose to do something for CHKD because the hospital’s work reaches across the region.

“CHKD helps so many families and kids,” she said. “They do great work. It helps families all over — in Hampton Roads and beyond.”

Gibbs said CHKD is close to her heart, because the hospital took care of her son for a week after he was born.

She added she thinks it’s important people help CHKD, because the hospital has affected so many people’s lives in the region.

“I think CHKD is a special place for everyone in Hampton Roads,” Gibbs said. “We encourage people to donate to get in the (holiday) spirit. We never know it can be us (in the hospital).”

Donations can be left at Gentle Touch Home Health Care, 140 W. Washington St. Suite 108. For more information, call 934-6717.