Since 2013, Lakeland Pools & Spas has been sponsoring a toy drive, Harrison’s Toy Box, in memory of co-owner Tracey Shauger’s son, Harrison. Harrison died in March 2013 at age 6 from congenital heart disease. Harrison spent a lot of time at Lakeland Pools making customers laugh. Each year on Harrison’s birthday, Tracey, her husband Moose and daughter Emily donate the toys to the Pediatric Center for Heart Disease in Hackensack, New Jersey, where Harrison was a patient.
The center gives these toys to their patients. Harrison received a toy every time he had a visit at the center, which ensured he would leave with a smile on his face. Each child receives a toy, and this is one way the Shauger Family and Lakeland Pools can make sure each patient goes home the way Harrison did: with a toy and a smile. The first year yielded 200 toys. In 2018, there were more than 1,380 donated toys.