December has arrived and with it comes the much anticipated holiday season, a season of giving that resonates at Rams Park. Bright lights and decorations are a staple of the holidays, and they can be seen strewn in parks and on homes around the St. Louis area. One place, though, that the lights shine the brightest is at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Every year, the Friends of St. Louis Children’s Hospital kick off the holiday season with the Love Light Festival. The annual event is centered around bringing fun and joy to kids in the hospital during the holiday season, and it features food, holiday music and special visits from athletes, celebrities and fun characters from the St. Louis area. The Friends hosted the festival Wednesday, Nov. 30, and Rams players 
“I think it’s a great cause, hanging out with the kids, going around trying to share some happiness and some spirit and trying to get some smiles,” Kehl said. “It’s been really fun to hang out with the kids especially because a lot of these kids are really struggling.”
The Friends of SLCH collect toys, games, books, stuffed animals and blankets throughout the year for the Love Light Festival so each kid can receive a gift for the holidays. Once the Rams took time to visit each patient, Santa and Mrs. Claus came around to deliver a gift bag to each kid.
“Love Light is my favorite event of the year,” Chairman of the Friends Board Glenda Seldin said. “If you have to be in the hospital, this is one of the best days to be here.”
All the items in the gift bags are donated to the Friends of SLCH, various church groups around the area make blankets and pillow cases for each patient and local grade school art students decorate the gift bags. After Santa, the various characters and local celebrities and athletes visited the patients, family members of the patients were treated to a festive meal. The event concluded with an inspiring ceremony and the hospital turned on the thousands of twinkling holiday lights for the season.
Love Light is one of the most anticipated events of the year, but it is one that comes as a surprise to many patients.
“Absolutely it’s something the kids look forward to,” Seldin said. “Although, fortunately and hopefully they don’t know this happens so it’s a big surprise for them because they’re not usually here year after year.”
The Rams appreciate the opportunity they have to visit with kids who are fighting various illnesses and cherish their ability to spread some holiday joy.
“It’s very humbling, I think is probably the biggest thing,” Kehl said. “They’ve given so very much and it’s nice to try to give back. It makes you feel good; I think that’s what this season is all about.”
