By Kate Hill

Staff Writer

On Dec. 15, McKenzie Houseman, owner of 20|EAST, informed the Cazenovia Republican of the generosity of the Kogut family.

This holiday season, the Koguts, who own Spruce Ridge Landscape & Garden Center in Cazenovia, bought presents for the patients of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.

In February 2020, Holly Kogut, 8, was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer, called Wilms’ tumor.

She underwent two surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy during the pandemic.

“When we were told that the hospital was shutting down to visitors again and the holiday was coming up, we decided to pay it forward,” said Amanda Kogut, Holly’s mother. “We received an enormous amount of support from our friends, family and the Cazenovia community and felt this was the least we could do.”

According to Amanda, the presents and gift cards were passed out on the hospital’s 12-bed hematology/oncology floor. Extra gifts were distributed in the Pediatric Cancer Clinic at Upstate.

“We delivered the gifts on Dec. 15 when we were at the hospital for Holly’s scans,” said Amanda. “She is scanned every six weeks and they were clear.”

20|EAST and Root & Wander Photography, of Cazenovia, both donated to the effort.

“We were very overwhelmed and so appreciative that two friends of ours who also own small businesses in our community wanted to contribute to Holly’s Christmas wish,” said Amanda. “The gifts that Holly [received] during her hospital stay are very special to her and we hope these will bring joy, even if for a minute, to other children and their family during these times.”