KILLEEN, Texas — For children battling cancer, seasons can be tough. Instead of enjoying time on the playgrounds or being outside, they spend days inside hospital rooms.
That's why the Texas A&M University-Central Texas Police Department partnered with the nonprofit Big Love Cancer Care to host a toy drive.
"They're never left behind with us," Calista Flores, Big Love Cancer Care's Director of Programs for Central Texas, said.
The nonprofit serves more than 100,000 patients a year and offers 12 service-based programs at 10 Texas hospital, 52 weeks a year.
"We start from diagnosis all the way through remission or end of life," Jack Bailey, Big Love Cancer Care's Director of Development for Central Texas, said.
The mission is to meet the most basic and urgent physical, emotional and financial needs of pediatric oncology and hematology patients and their families. Providing a moment of happiness and letting the kids know they aren't alone in their fight is what it's all about.
The Christmas in July Toy Drive on campus was a collaborative effort between the nonprofit and university police. Hundreds of toys and other gifts have been collected so far.
"We're not stopping," Andrew Flores, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police for the university, said. "The train is going to continue."
On July 31, people brought in sports equipment, bikes, curling irons, makeup kits and more!
If you would like to make a donation, you can go to the Founders Hall welcome center on the A&M-Central Texas campus.
Every contribution, no matter how small, can make an immeasurable impact on the life of a child facing unimaginable challenges.
"I would just ask you to look inside your heart and consider giving and supporting," Clarence Enochs, community advocate and volunteer for the nonprofit, said.
There's also an upcoming event to help the kids with Big Love Cancer Care. It's a charity golf tournament August 29-30 in Killeen. More info can be found here.
More from 6 News: