Children who are patients at the Memorial Hospital at Easton and Dorchester General Hospital will get a special holiday treat with their treatment thanks to a donation of toys from the Maryland National Guard.

Staff Sergeant Erik Rittler from Bravo Troop 1, 158th Cavalry of the Maryland National Guard at the Louis B. Smith Armory in Easton, explained that the Dollar Tree stores in Easton and Cambridge support Operation Homefront by collecting toys for families of people serving in the military. “We received so many toys that we wanted to share them with children who are in the hospital during the Christmas season,” Rittler explained.

Pediatrics nurses at Memorial Hospital will give the toys to children hospitalized on their unit. The toys also will be distributed to the emergency departments at Memorial Hospital and Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge and to the Queen Anne’s Emergency Center, where children come as patients and visitors.