Melissa Wharton
Northeast News

For the holiday season, Amazon has sent out their sleighs: 53-foot trucks stocked with toys, books and essential items to bring to children and families in need. The trucks are making a 33-stop journey across the country to bring holiday cheer, and this Monday, December 11, they stopped at Sheffield Place in Northeast Kansas City.

After families had left for work and school, the Amazon truck arrived and set up a winter wonderland complete with boxes upon boxes of gifts for the families. In total, residents of Sheffield Place received $15,000 worth of gifts.

“We are honored to be here. We’re thankful to bring some fun and have a good time,” said Amazon representative Nikki White. “Amazon is bringing $15,000 worth of essential items, and we’re bringing our love and our spirit.”

Amazon chose the 33 stops based on the needs of the community and the organizations that were making a noticeable impact on them.

“What you guys have given is huge for us, because you’ve given things we need to operate,” said Nate Vander Hamm, president of the board at Sheffield Place. “And by giving those things we not only get the access to that, but it also frees up cash we can use for other things like stay-in services to help more families.”

“And it’s not just going to be paper towels used by staff,” Vander Hamm added. “It will be used by the women and their families, and that’s part of how they get training and how they learn to be a fully functioning member of society.”