The Special Gift Toy Drive 2008
Each year, thousands of children suffer burn related accidents from the many hazards of childhood. In July of 1979, I joined those children. At the tender age of 6, I was admitted to Shriner's Burns Institute in Cincinnati to receive the specialized medical attention I needed to survive another day. Like many of the other children in the faceless statistics, I awoke disoriented, confused, and alone, in a sterile environment designed to keep me alive. I was scared, frightened, and felt completely isolated from the world I knew, common actions that I had taken for granted now causing crippling agony. And I was lucky. Lucky to be alive, and lucky to be in a caring environment. After four months of rehabilitation, I was able to leave the hospital, mostly under my own power. There were several follow-up visits and surgeries, but for the most part, the worst was over.
However, there are many children who arrive at Shriner's without the luck I have. Many have lost their families, or are summarily abandoned due to their injuries. Compounding that tragedy like nothing else are the hospital stays that last through the holiday season, beginning with Halloween, passing through birthdays and Thanksgiving, before ending up on Christmas, the most anticipated holiday to many children.
The Shriner's Burns Institute relies on private sources to maintain the free hospital services that they provide. They consistently give the best care in the burn field, making breakthrough discoveries almost daily. They do their best to provide for every child who is rushed in through their doors, but the holidays are tough, especially for the tiny patients. That's where you and I come in to the picture. We are collecting new toys, games, and books to donate to the Shriner's Burns Institute in Cincinnati - to give back a “Special Gift” to the children. Words can not even begin to describe the feeling received when you know that your actions are able to bring a smile to the face and joy to the heart of these young victims.
From now through December 20th (to allow adequate time for delivery to the hospital), we are asking that if you have the opportunity, please purchase a new (sadly, used toys can not be accepted due to sterilization concerns) toy, game, comic or book for donation to the Special Gift Toy Drive. Each comic, card, game or the like that we donate this way will provide a child with the things that we love so much, hopefully igniting in them the same passions we feel when we read a great book or play an awesome video game.
Below is a list of the items we’re looking to acquire - if you (or someone you know) would like to donate, feel free to pass along my contact information.
Thank you, and I hope that you and yours have a happy and rewarding holiday season.
Here are the target items for the toy drive this year. Items which are bolder and have an asterix next to them are in the "Most needed" category.
Infants & Toddlers*****
Small toys for ages 0-5
Teethers and rattles
Cardboard books, ages 1-3
dark-skinned baby dolls
Musical toys
Fisher-Price brand Infant crib mobiles
Cause and Effect Toys
Push toys
School Supplies
loose leaf notebook paper
cutesy/fun pencils and pens
folders
markers
scissors
backpacks
School-age & Teens
Tape recorders without earphones
MP3 Players*****
Multiplayer PS3, PSP and Xbox 360 games (E Rating Preferred)
AM/FM radios*****
Simple jewelry
Regular playing cards*****
diaries*****
watches*****
Rock Band 2 & peripherals (360 or PS3)
Guitar Hero: World Tour & peripherals (360 or PS3)
Remote control cars and toys*****
Hand-held video games (LED, DS or PSP)*****
Stationary
Musical tapes/cds - popular artists
Legos/Bionicle/BTR
Professional sports Logo hats, t-shirts, posters Materials for boys 9+*****
2009 calendars*****
Popular music CD’s & tapes*****
Board and playing card games: UNO, SKIPPO, Guess Who, Connect Four, Monopoly, Trouble, Sorry, Yahtzee, Memory, Life, Stratego Game, any games 8-adult*****
Arts, Crafts, Misc.
Magic Marker poster sets, crayons 8-packs
Glue together models (cars, planes, fictional vehicles)****
Fabric Paint, yarn, glue
Polaroid 600 Film
Blank cassette tapes
Beads
Polaroid Instant Pop-shot one use cameras
Snap together model cars****
Paint by number set (acrylic paint only)*****
Clay, Model magic
White t-shirts in adult sizes (S, M, L)
White t-shirts in children sizes (S, M, L)
Batteries (all sizes)
Please feel free to spread the word.
However, there are many children who arrive at Shriner's without the luck I have. Many have lost their families, or are summarily abandoned due to their injuries. Compounding that tragedy like nothing else are the hospital stays that last through the holiday season, beginning with Halloween, passing through birthdays and Thanksgiving, before ending up on Christmas, the most anticipated holiday to many children.
The Shriner's Burns Institute relies on private sources to maintain the free hospital services that they provide. They consistently give the best care in the burn field, making breakthrough discoveries almost daily. They do their best to provide for every child who is rushed in through their doors, but the holidays are tough, especially for the tiny patients. That's where you and I come in to the picture. We are collecting new toys, games, and books to donate to the Shriner's Burns Institute in Cincinnati - to give back a “Special Gift” to the children. Words can not even begin to describe the feeling received when you know that your actions are able to bring a smile to the face and joy to the heart of these young victims.
From now through December 20th (to allow adequate time for delivery to the hospital), we are asking that if you have the opportunity, please purchase a new (sadly, used toys can not be accepted due to sterilization concerns) toy, game, comic or book for donation to the Special Gift Toy Drive. Each comic, card, game or the like that we donate this way will provide a child with the things that we love so much, hopefully igniting in them the same passions we feel when we read a great book or play an awesome video game.
Below is a list of the items we’re looking to acquire - if you (or someone you know) would like to donate, feel free to pass along my contact information.
Thank you, and I hope that you and yours have a happy and rewarding holiday season.
Here are the target items for the toy drive this year. Items which are bolder and have an asterix next to them are in the "Most needed" category.
Infants & Toddlers*****
Small toys for ages 0-5
Teethers and rattles
Cardboard books, ages 1-3
dark-skinned baby dolls
Musical toys
Fisher-Price brand Infant crib mobiles
Cause and Effect Toys
Push toys
School Supplies
loose leaf notebook paper
cutesy/fun pencils and pens
folders
markers
scissors
backpacks
School-age & Teens
Tape recorders without earphones
MP3 Players*****
Multiplayer PS3, PSP and Xbox 360 games (E Rating Preferred)
AM/FM radios*****
Simple jewelry
Regular playing cards*****
diaries*****
watches*****
Rock Band 2 & peripherals (360 or PS3)
Guitar Hero: World Tour & peripherals (360 or PS3)
Remote control cars and toys*****
Hand-held video games (LED, DS or PSP)*****
Stationary
Musical tapes/cds - popular artists
Legos/Bionicle/BTR
Professional sports Logo hats, t-shirts, posters Materials for boys 9+*****
2009 calendars*****
Popular music CD’s & tapes*****
Board and playing card games: UNO, SKIPPO, Guess Who, Connect Four, Monopoly, Trouble, Sorry, Yahtzee, Memory, Life, Stratego Game, any games 8-adult*****
Arts, Crafts, Misc.
Magic Marker poster sets, crayons 8-packs
Glue together models (cars, planes, fictional vehicles)****
Fabric Paint, yarn, glue
Polaroid 600 Film
Blank cassette tapes
Beads
Polaroid Instant Pop-shot one use cameras
Snap together model cars****
Paint by number set (acrylic paint only)*****
Clay, Model magic
White t-shirts in adult sizes (S, M, L)
White t-shirts in children sizes (S, M, L)
Batteries (all sizes)
Please feel free to spread the word.