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Access Health Louisiana gave away more than 1,000 toys at its second annual “Jingle Bell Bash” on December 15th inside the Esplanade Mall in Kenner. Families lined up early for the event. While anxious children stood in line waiting for Santa’s toy land to open at 10am, AHL’s Vice President of Operations James Comeaux, gave away prizes. The prizes, donated by Louisiana Healthcare Connections, Target and stores inside the Esplanade Mall included: bicycles, a laptop, a dollhouse, G-Shock watch, jewelry, free ice skating passes, gift cards and more!
Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn welcomed families to the mall and thanked AHL for its commitment to providing quality healthcare to the communities it serves. AHL operates its Kenner Community Health Center inside the Esplanade Mall. Zahn was accompanied by his new city mascot “Captain Klean”. The superhero pup helps remind children to keep the city of Kenner clean.
Santa himself greeted children as they entered his toy land. When each child entered, their families received free health information from organizations including: Healthy Blue Louisiana, Nurse Family Partnerships, the AIDS Education and Training Center of Southeast Louisiana and AHL’s top sponsor for the event – Louisiana Healthcare Connections. Each child was paired up with a volunteer elf who helped them select a toy. Then, they received a free cookie courtesy of the Great American Cookie Company. Free pictures were taken by the AHL photo area.
AHL recognized several people for their outstanding commitment to the annual event including: Amber Dillenhoffer, a student at Destrehan High School who collected close to 300 toys for AHL’s giveaway, Chosen Vessels Dance and Performing Arts Academy, Sonja Mitchell with Xtreme Décor who decorated the event space, Kenner Police Department and its community volunteers for helping out that morning, Mrs. Pritchett’s class from Bonnabel High School and Silk Me for Kids for hosting Santa’s barber shop that morning.
AHL was especially grateful to its top level sponsor this year: Louisiana Healthcare Connections. Other community partners who helped make the event possible included: Healthy Blue Louisiana, Aetna, United Healthcare, AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, Simon Media, Latino Mix and Tropicale Radio, as well as Telemundo. Thank you to WDSU-TV’s morning anchor Christina Watkins for helping to promote the Jingle Bell Bash on her newscast December 9th. Access Health Louisiana’s Chenier Reynolds-Montz and Victoria Alexis appeared on the show to promote the big toy giveaway. 
