Sydney’s Santa Ride: CCSO Bring Holiday Spirit to NCH North Patients

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office lit up the night in the most heartwarming way. The 9th annual Sydney’s Santa Ride made its grand entrance at NCH North, bringing gifts, joy, and some much-needed holiday magic to pediatric patients. Imagine being a kid, stuck in a hospital during the holidays, and then seeing a parade of deputies, firefighters, and paramedics rolling up with lights flashing... That’s what went down this evening.

According to a CCSO Facebook post, Sheriff Rambosk is all about this event. He’s been hyping it as one of his favorite things every year, and you can see why. It's not just about the gifts, although those are awesome, it's about the vibe. These kids got to feel a little normal, even if just for a night. They watched from their windows, waving and smiling as the first responders rolled in like rock stars.

This whole thing started because of Sydney, the niece of CCSO Cpl. J.J. Snyder. She sadly lost her fight with pediatric cancer, but her spirit lives on in this event. Her legacy is this massive snowball of kindness that just keeps growing.

Here’s the cool part about Sydney’s Santa Ride, all those toys and games? They’re not coming from some big corporate sponsor. Nope. They’re donated by the same people showing up tonight. First responders and people from the community who want to give back. It’s like one big family coming together to make sure these kids feel the holiday love.

Sydney’s Santa Ride is more than just an event. It’s a reminder that in the middle of all the chaos, there are people out here doing good, spreading joy, and keeping the holiday spirit alive. Whether it’s Sheriff Rambosk leading the charge or a firefighter handing out a stuffed animal, it’s proof that a little effort can go a long way.

I've been invited to a cookie exchange party this weekend and have no idea what to make. When scouring social media for ideas, I found these 5 festive Christmas cookie recipes and thought I'd share with you for TikTok Tuesday.

I love cookies and the idea of making them. However, I'm more of a savory home chef. Last Christmas I tried to make snowman cookies from scratch and they were a disaster. I looked for a photo to share here but must have destroyed all of the evidence.

I'm still not sure what I did wrong but it was raining outside and the dough did not hold up. I blame the humidity as I'm sure it was nothing I did wrong. Ha.

I did find these chocolate cookies I made from scratch one year and they tuned out great. Although not exactly festive looking for

You can have so much fun with Christmas cookies. Adding food coloring and shimmery sugars are great touches. Then there are all of the different shapes from bells to gingerbread men. So the question becomes, "Where the heck do I start?"

If you don't have a TikTok account, don't worry. I've made it easy by taking these links from mine. Simply scroll down and watch from this post. Some of the recipe details are in the captions so you might have to click to see in full.

Also, some have links in their bios if you need help. Turn up the volume as well for good advice and instructions.

Finally, share these videos and recipes with friends who also enjoy baking and might be looking for some new cookie ideas.

These are a spin on Rice Krispy Treats. They just Corn Flakes instead. Then add some food dye and shape it.

Sugar Cookies are a classic. But they take a little work to get right. She has some good tips to help yours turn out like a pro this year.

I love going into Italian bakeries and markets and looking at the cookies they have year round. Especially around the holidays. These Almond Cookies are so good.

If you aren't much of a baker and want something fairly easy, these are for you. You start with a basic cake mix. Kids could have some fun with this one too. 

I love the enthusiasm this girl has for these cookies. They sound and look good too. Once you get the basics down you could probably put all kinds of fillings in there.