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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Several children hospitalized at Memorial Central Hospital in Colorado Springs had a special visitor Tuesday morning.

"Patches," the Sheriff Panda with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, along with office staff, delivered new teddy bears and other stuffed animals to children as he whizzed by in his mini patrol car.

"It's a way to show the 911 system cares," Elizabeth Brown, director of the Communications Center for the Sheriff's Office, said.

Brown started the Beary Merry Christmas program in 2003 as a way to educate youth about 911 services. The program quickly expanded and is now used to bring joy to ill children at the hospital during the holiday season.

"The children are all smiles, they just love getting the teddy bears," Brown said. "The parents are just really grateful because it is such a hard time for their family to have them in the hospital during the holidays."

Temika Allmon's 3-year-old daughter Yasliene has spend the past several days at Memorial after having stomach surgery. Patches brought Yasliene a soft bear with a Santa hat Tuesday, a surprise gift her mother appreciates.

"I think it is really cool and a nice surprise," Allmon said. "Especially for all the kiddos who are here during Christmas."

Since the program began, local Wal-Mart stores have helped provide the funds to purchase the stuffed animals.

This year, more than 40 teddy bears and other stuffed toys were collected and delivered to child patients.