DuPage Co. cops offer a dose of good cheer to kids at local hospitals

It's not easy being a sponge.

At least not a cop dressed up as a SpongeBob SquarePants.

"Tell your dog this is not a fire hydrant," Oak Brook police Lt. Mark Delise said as he stood outside the door to 8-year-old Stephen Gough's room at Edward Hospital in Naperville.

Sixteen active and retired officers from 10 DuPage County police departments - and one Darien police dog named Rolf - showered the boy with attention.

The entourage spent Friday visiting sick kids and handing out toys at four area hospitals.

The schedule was ambitious, to be sure.

Organizers budgeted back-to-back one-hour increments for each of the visits at Edward Hospital, Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield and Hinsdale and Elmhurst hospitals.

This is the 40th year the DuPage County Police Association has organized the toy giveaway. The gifts come from a drive the group sponsors every year.

"We just do it to contribute to the community and give kids a lift when they're supposed to be home celebrating the holiday with the family," said Naperville police Lt. Dave Hoffman.

The merry group of officers scurried through the Edward Hospital pediatrics unit lugging bags full of Hot Wheels, board games, soccer balls and teddy bears, as nurses stopped to play with Rolf and snap pictures.

Within a half-hour they were aboard a bus and on their way to Winfield.

The group was met at the front door of Central DuPage by two hospital representatives, who briefed the group on the ground rules.

Within minutes, they were on their way, following a schedule that included about dozen kids on the list.

Among the surprised patients was 9-year-old Amber Derr, who was quizzed by officers on the characters who posed to take pictures with the Bartlett girl.

"Wow, it was cool," Amber said of the unexpected visit as she looked over her gifts, a toy bear and a Scrabble board game. "It was fun."