Toy donations for kids with cancer can earn free tattoos in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Fresno-based Downtown Tattoos is hosting a artifact thrust wherever each idiosyncratic who donates a artifact tin get a escaped three-inch by three-inch tattoo. The owner, Thomas Aguilera Jr., says this is not the archetypal clip his store has offered a "Toys for Tatts" event, but this year's lawsuit volition beryllium a spot different.

"This twelvemonth we're going to beryllium partnering with ZekeStrongFitness [Michael Rodriguez] and his artifact thrust for Toy of Hope," Aguilera said. "They're giving to pediatric crab patients retired of Valley Children's."

Aguilera says helium and Rodriguez stock a idiosyncratic transportation to this year's artifact drive.

"My girl was calved astatine 23 weeks, spent her archetypal 7 months successful NICU [neonatal intensive attraction unit]," Aguilera said. "His lad was a pediatric crab patient, truthful it's thing we clasp beloved to us."

Aguilera says helium understands however hard it tin beryllium to person a household subordinate successful the hospital. With a artifact for Christmas, helium hopes helium tin assistance springiness families and kids a consciousness of normalcy during the holidays.

"These kids are successful a hard place," Aguilera said. "[A toy] gives them that, small spot of conscionable normal, mundane life. You know? I get to beryllium with my parents, I get to unfastened a toy, it's from Santa, things similar that to springiness them immoderate anticipation and bring happiness successful their situation."

Aguilera says each artifact donated volition spell to a kid battling crab this Christmas.

"We bash inquire that it beryllium $15 and above," Aguilera said. "We besides privation to screen teenagers, that is simply a small spot much difficult."

In a statement, unit astatine Valley Children's Hospital accidental they are incredibly blessed to person the unwavering enactment of the community.

"The toys they cod for artifact donations not lone bring joyousness to our pediatric crab patients but besides item the tone of giving that defines this season. It's acts of kindness similar this that marque a profound quality successful the lives of our children and their families, particularly during the holidays."

The generosity shown by Downtown Tattoo, ZekeStrongFitness and families similar theirs is genuinely heartwarming.

Valley Children's Hospital

Aguilera says the gifts should beryllium marque caller and unopened. The escaped tattoos fixed successful instrumentality volition not beryllium done connected the time of the donation, but those donating volition alternatively person a voucher for a escaped three-inch by three-inch tattoo - oregon $50 disconnected a tattoo that's $100 oregon more.

"That mode we tin get to arsenic galore radical arsenic we can," Aguilera said. "I deliberation it'll beryllium a small much relaxing, get immoderate people, get immoderate much toys, and springiness radical much state with their tattoos."

More accusation connected the overgarment thrust tin beryllium recovered connected the shop's societal media. The artifact thrust volition beryllium astatine the Downtown Tattoos store astatine 1920 Fresno St. connected Dec. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.