Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Homestead Chiropractic employees including, receptionist Lilly Tamayo, left, and Dr. Christian Lund, hold their first annual Toys for Tots drive. The chiropractic office has been holding food drives for the Second Harvest Food Bank for several years. For the cost of a new toy, new patients will receive a free x-ray and exam.
Local chiropractor to straighten kinks for toys
By Michelle Alaimo
One local chiropractor is giving residents a chance to help themselves and those less fortunate by simply donating a new unwrapped toy. Until Dec. 22, Homestead Chiropractic Group will accept toys or a $20 donation for the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program. While anyone is encouraged to drop off a toy, new patients who donate will receive a free chiropractic exam, including x-rays, at no charge.
"There are a lot of kids that are less fortunate," chiropractor Christian Lund said. "Christmas is a good opportunity to do my little part in the world."
This is the first year Lund's office has sponsored a Toys for Tots drive. Lund said the drive has been very successful; by mid-month, the 32-gallon drum for toy donations was already overflowing with unwrapped Barbie dolls, teddy bears and cars. Gifts also bulge out from beneath the office's Christmas tree.
"The goal is to get as many donations as possible," Lund said. Many of the donations are coming from current patients of Lund, who think the toy drive is a great way to give back to the community.
Sunnyvale resident and patient Diana Ehrhardt said she first learned about the toy drive during an office visit and decided she wanted to help out. She bought two of several toys, including Barbies and Winnie the Pooh items, donating one to her own job's toy drive and one to the Chiropractic Group's toy drive.
"I wanted to give to other children and help the effort," Ehrhardt said.
In past years, Lund has held food drives for Second Harvest Food Bank and said he enjoys helping others. As with the toy drive, new patients who donated three cans of food at past events received a free chiropractic exam and x-rays.
"Everybody gets joy out of giving," Lund said. He adds he only helps the giving spirit along by giving people an event to create the giving momentum.
Toys For Tots is a USMC-sponsored event in its 52nd year. Last year, more than 55,000 needy children in the San Francisco Bay Area received new toys from the program with more than 7 million toys collected nationwide, USMC officials said.
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
