Kent’s Market and Associated Food Stores helped bring holiday cheer, and $40,000, to Shriners Children’s Salt Lake City during the hospital’s annual patient holiday event, themed this year as the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” On Tuesday, December 17, patients and their families enjoyed a festive afternoon filled with creative activities, joyful surprises, and generous support from these local partners, along with Swire Coca-Cola.
The event began with patients decorating wooden photo frames in Santa’s Workshop before diving into themed activities like mini golf with French baguettes and Eiffel Towers, representing “Three French Hens,” and javelin wrapping paper through golden hula hoops for “Five Golden Rings.” Adding to the excitement, children sent “seven swans” ice skating in a whimsical nod to the iconic holiday song.
Highlighting the festivities, Santa Claus made a surprise appearance, delighting patients with special moments of holiday magic. The event concluded with a check presentation of $30,000 from Associated Food Stores and Swire Coca-Cola and $10,000 from Kent’s.
After the check presentation, team members from Kent’s, AFS and Swire Coca-Cola distributed giant Coca-Cola Christmas polar bears to the patients. (In most cases, the bears were larger than the patients but certainly not as big as their smiles.)
“This event truly embodies the spirit of the season,” said Kris Romeril, senior category manager for Associated Food Stores. “We are honored to partner with Kent’s Market and Swire Coca-Cola to bring joy to these incredible patients and their families. Events like this show the power of community and the impact we can make together.”
For Kent’s Market, a family-owned grocer with deep roots in Northern Utah, the event was a natural extension of their mission to support the communities they serve.
Shriners Children’s Salt Lake City uses events like these to go beyond physical care, addressing the social and emotional needs of their patients. Providing pediatric orthopedic care regardless of ability to pay, Shriners continues to transform lives through innovative services and heartfelt outreach.