Easter bunnies arrive at hospital
Published 8:47 pm Thursday, March 4, 2021
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A special spring delivery came to a Suffolk hospital on Thursday.
The Suffolk Sheriff’s Office delivered stuffed bunnies donated from The Easter Bunny Foundation to the Women’s Center at Sentara Obici Hospital.
The Easter Bunny Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides partnering sheriff’s offices and police departments with stuffed toy bunnies to deliver to local hospitals and nursing homes during the Easter season.
“Sheriff E.C. Harris and Maj. Deputy Miles hopped on the bunny trail to Sentara Obici Women’s Center to donate 150 toy bunnies to the Women’s Center,” said Katie Jones, community engagement coordinator for Suffolk Sheriff’s Office.
Babies born in March and April will receive a brightly colored stuffed bunny holding a painted Easter egg with the message “Some Bunny Loves Me.”
The Sheriff’s Office has worked with The Easter Bunny Foundation since 2016. Along with the stuffed bunnies, the Sheriff’s Office also received an Easter Bunny costume to make visits to nursing homes, children’s hospitals and pediatric wards. Last Easter, during the height of the pandemic, the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office made window visits to local nursing homes such as Autumn Care Nursing Center and Nansemond Pointe Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center with the Easter Bunny to keep spirits up as things were uncertain.
According to The Easter Bunny Foundation’s website, it was founded in 1995 and has partnered with more than 100 sheriffs’ offices and police departments throughout the country to spread “the excitement and wonderment that only a personal visit from the Easter Bunny can bring” over 30 states.
“We are thrilled to make this donation through The Easter Bunny Foundation, which provides our office new plush toy bunnies and an Easter bunny costume to coordinate visits with children and seniors during the Easter season,” said Jones.
These stuffed bunnies and costumes bring a unique opportunity for law enforcement to positively impact their communities by creating fun interactions with those who need it most.