A Christmas tradition aimed at bringing smiles to the faces of children preparing to undergo surgical procedures 
continued Friday at Decatur County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) in the spirit of its late originator.
Local VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary member Dorothy “Dot” Bicknell began “Dot’s Toys for Tots” nearly 20 years ago having elected to gather toys with fellow Ladies’ Auxiliary members instead of holding a gift exchange for themselves. Dot’s goal was to send a little comfort and joy to children at DCMH – in the form of a plush animal friend the child could keep after the medical procedure was over.
Dot died in 2000, but her spirit of giving has continued on ever since through the work of her friends.
VFW member Thelma Meece said she began collecting the toys around November this year, and she wound up with more than 120 to carry to DCMH Friday. The toys were set out together on a table as nursing staff and VFW and Ladies’ Auxiliary members gathered for a photo. This year’s crew of critters included such mainstays as Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat and Simba from Disney’s Lion King, alongside fluffy animals of every sort. Dot’s husband Hank Bicknell, as he has in year’s past, held a framed photo of his wife as he sat next to the group of toys.
Meece said she hopes to continue the program next year and spoke of her surprise at the number of toys her fellow auxiliary and VFW members were able to acquire this time.
“I didn’t think we were going to have this many; they really surprised me,” she said with a laugh. “It’ll last them a while.”
In addition to Thelma Meece and Hank Bicknell, Friday’s DCMH visitors included VFW and VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary members Peggy Fenske, Marlene Wolter, Fred Shoopman, Frannie Shoopman and Steve Roszell. DCMH nurses Jae Riedeman, Mel Stone, Amy McBride, Rhonda Vawter and Allana Newhart also attended.
Written by the Greensburg Daily News