TGH employee makes foster kids his mission at Christmas

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Christmas is a time when family and friends come together. But, for Delwyn Collins, it means so much more.

Collins has been buying toys for Hillsborough County foster children for the past 28 years.

"Just to make kids happy, that's what it is all about," Collins said. 

Every Christmas, Dewlyn organizes the Tampa General Hospital staff to sponsor toys for more than 500 kids in foster care.  

The children put their wish list on angels, which are hung on the Hospital's Christmas Tree. Delwyn and the staff then go about making their wishes come true.  

"I feel good," said Delwyn. "I get everybody involved in it."  

Delwyn works as a dishwasher at TGH and worked overtime to help pay for gifts that he bought for the foster kids.

"To me, I'm just like an average person, just somebody that just likes to lend a hand," he said.

Delwyn overcame learning disabilities and is also legally blind. He gets his passion to help others from his mother. She worked two jobs to support Dewlyn and his three siblings.

"My mother worked her heart out to make sure we had a Christmas, no matter what," Delwyn said.

They're like Santa and his helpers, working to make Christmas dreams come true.

"I hope each one of you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year," Delwyn said.