Thursday, December 05, 2024

Dr. Lori Christian and Chagrin Chiropractic and Wellness have been making the holidays brighter for hundreds of children each year through their annual holiday toy drive, where Dr. Christian offers a free back adjustment to anyone who donates a toy valued at $25 or more. All the toys are then brought to Beech Brook, where they are distributed to vulnerable kids who aren’t likely to receive a present for the holidays. In fact, 2024 marks the twentieth year of Chagrin Chiropractic and Wellness donating all the toys to Beech Brook!

Hundreds of people participate, even people who are not patients, but just want to give back. “It’s my favorite time of year,” Dr. Christian says. “It’s so important to give back and support the kids and families in our community, and I’m happy we’ve had such great participation over the years!”

Dr. Christian started collecting toys in 2004 after her children’s babysitter, a college student studying to be a social worker, shared that many of the children she was working with did not have any toys in their home – one child, the soon-to-be social worker told her, was batting around an empty macaroni and cheese box for entertainment.

This, Dr. Christian knew, was not okay, and she wanted to do something about it.

So she did. For 20 years, Dr. Christian and her team at Chagrin Chiro have collected over a hundred toys each November/December that are then donated to Beech Brook to give to the vulnerable kids who need a little extra hope during the holidays. Her team also collects gloves, mittens, and winter coats, which also go to Beech Brook’s kids and families.

Beech Brook could not provide the hope or support that it does without the generosity of people like Dr. Lori Christian, her team, and all the community members who believe in the power of giving back. On behalf of all the children and families Beech Brook serves, thank you for your years of support and for being a partner in making the holidays more joyful!