Pediatric Elf Squad To Provide Holiday Cheer To Children in NoVA Hospice

NORTHERN VIRGINIA — A Pediatric Elf Squad, sponsored by Capital Caring Health in Northern Virginia, will be delivering hundreds of gifts to children at Capital Caring Health’s Adler Center in Aldie on Saturday.

The gifts were donated by community members and businesses in the D.C. area.

“Although we can’t change the prognosis for these children, it is an honor to bring holiday cheer to their families,” Katherine Knoble, community and volunteer manager of the Pediatric Elf Squad at Capital Caring Health, said in a statement.

Knoble said her basement was overflowing with donated gifts as Capital Caring Health prepared for Saturday's event. A team of elves will deliver the gifts to children on Saturday at the center in Aldie between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Each child’s gift was selected by social workers and purchased by community members. My Guys Moving donated its services to transport the gifts to Capital Caring Health’s Adler Center.

“Katherine and I started talking about the Capital Caring Kids Pediatric Elf Squad in July after we had completed some pretty spectacular deliveries for the children for Easter, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day,” said Laurie Manning, a pediatric volunteer for Capital Caring Health.

Capital Caring Kids is one of the first and largest nonprofit hospice and progressive illness organizations in the country. Capital Caring Health and Capital Caring Kids provide care to more than 3,000 patients every day. Patients and families affected by advanced illness receive all the care services they need, regardless of ability to pay.

“Every child is precious, and every moment with them matters,” said Tara Hoit, executive director of Capital Caring Kids. “At Capital Caring Kids, we serve children from infants to young adults who are facing chronic, life-limiting medical conditions. We recognize that children and teens require a specially tailored approach with compassionate, nurturing support.”

Capital Caring Health encourages community members to apply to become a volunteer. A hospice volunteer must get 32 hours of training, background checks and TB and COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as provide references.