It's that magical time of year again where hearts are full and giving feels good.
Play is a child’s work. It is how they learn, grow, and express themselves. Research shows that children who are allowed to play in the hospital environment heal faster.
Join us at our annual Child Life Holiday Toy Drive on Sunday, December 17 from 10am to 12pm at the Clinic & Specialty Center.
Pull up to the circle drive and we'll have volunteers accepting new and unwrapped toys.
Can't make it? No problem - you can donate through our Amazon Wish List.
Prefer to make a monetary contribution? You can donate through our Hennepin Healthcare Foundation's website and type "Extraordinary Kids Fund" under "Other" in the designation section (look for the orange box).
“Using play was a great way to make the time go faster while waiting for my daughter to get well enough to go home. Instead of only remembering the time as being stressful, I am grateful to have memories of playing cards and endless games of Uno.” ~Melody Schreiner, Employee and Parent
“Playing with kids is the best part of my job. And if I can give them a toy that they'll cherish, it makes it even more special!” ~Sheila Helm, Peds/PICU RN
“There is no doubt that being in an intensive care unit can be intimidating to a child. All the monitor beeps, machines, and unfamiliar people can really make a child nervous. While I can’t take away the things (procedures, exams, imaging studies, respiratory support) that feels scary for a critically ill child, our child life specialists can make those things feel less scary. Having the right supplies for them to provide distraction is essential. Additionally, for self-care items and comfortable clothing can be a game changer for a child or teen recovering from an injury or illness. Being able to ease some of the fear, take away some of the scare, and make a child a little more comfortable makes it possible for me to provide comprehensive, child and family friendly care and I am positive kids get better faster with that.” ~Ashley Bjorklund, MD, PICU Medical Director
“The best feeling that tells me our children are getting better is watching them play with toys and it also makes me feel like a kid again!” ~Eduardo Fastag-Guttman, PICU Intensivist
"As a night shift nurse, I rely heavily on items such as stuffed animals and fuzzy blankets to make a child's hospital bed more comfortable because sleep is such an important part of healing!" ~Sam Otten, RN
