Police to Escort Santa to The Children's Inn at NIH

Montgomery County Police officers are revving up their motorcycles for this year’s “Santa’s Ride,” on Wednesday, Dec. 17, to boost the spirits of families who are staying at The Children’s Inn at National Institutes of Health in Bethesda during the holidays.

Starting Wednesday morning, police officers on motorcycles will collect toys and cash donations for The Inn at police stations throughout Montgomery County. The officers will then escort Santa—who will be riding a Harley-Davidson motorcyle himself—to The Children’s Inn and are expected to arrive on the NIH campus at 5:30 p.m.

Police officers will help children pick out presents at The Inn’s gift shop, filled with toys and gifts.

Montgomery County Police motor officers and Santa will meet at the Germantown station at 10 a.m. The locations the Santa Ride will visit this year are listed below. If you are unable to be at any of the locations, join police on a virtual ride-along with Santa on Twitter (@mcpnews – #MCPSantaRide). Officers will tweet in real-time as the ride progresses through the county.

The Children’s Inn is a private, nonprofit, family-centered residence for pediatric outpatients at the National Institutes of Health. Its purpose is to keep children together with their families during serious illness, reduce their stress and facilitate the healing process through mutual support.

Those wishing to contribute gifts can drop off donations for The Children’s Inn at any Montgomery County Police District station or can make a monetary donation by visiting www.childrensinn.org, click the “Donate for the Holidays” button and select “Police Santa Ride.”

Santa Ride Stops

· The riders’ first stop at 10:25 a.m. Upcounty Regional Services Center at 12900 Middlebrook Road.

· The ride will continue to Wegmans located at 20600 Seneca Meadows Parkway in Germantown, arriving at 10:50 a.m.

· The riders will then visit Public Safety Headquarters at 100 Edison Park Drive in Gaithersburg, arriving at 12:30 p.m.

· After departing the PSHQ, the riders will make a brief lunch stop at Mama Lucia restaurant located at 14941 Shady Grove Road in Rockville.

· The riders will continue to Olney Town Center, arriving at Harris Teeter at 18169 Town Center Drive at 3:10 p.m.

· The riders will then head down to Downtown Silver Spring, Ellsworth Street near Starbucks, arriving at 4:00 p.m.

· The next to last stop will be in Bethesda at Veteran’s Park, at the intersection of Woodmont Avenue and Norfolk Avenue, arriving at 5:00 p.m.

· The Santa Ride will then depart for its final destination – The Children’s Inn at NIH. Arrival at The Children’s Inn is expected at approximately 5:30 p.m. From 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., MCP officers and Santa will spend time with and distribute gift bags to the children at The Children’s Inn at NIH.

»PHOTO: Santa with his motorcycle escort from Montgomery County Police, courtesy of MCPD.