Wouldn’t it be great if every child hospitalized over the holidays could receive toys and gifts to bring joy and comfort while they are in the hospital?
A local mom teamed up this holiday season with the Child Life Team at NorthShore University HealthSystem-Evanston Hospital as well as the Wilmette Fire Department and Cub Scouts Pack 5 to bring holiday joy to the children hospitalized there by hosting a Holiday Toy Drive running through Dec. 20.
The son of local mom and pediatric nurse practitioner, Kate Groff, was recently hospitalized at NorthShore Evanston, and as a way to give back and say thank you for the wonderful care she said her family received there she decided to partner with the hospital to mobilize community support for a Holiday Toy Drive. She credits her son’s recovery to all the pediatric providers who cared for him, and to the Child Life Team who comforted him and provided security with age-appropriate toys during his stay.
Hospital stays are very stressful for families, particularly over the holidays when they should be with friends and family, so feeling the support of the community with gifts will make a big difference in the lives of these families. Any pediatric patient hospitalized over the holidays will receive gifts distributed by the nurses and Child Life Team, ranging from newborns up to 21 years of age. Each gift will make a difference in the life of a local child and family experiencing significant hardship this holiday season.
Help brighten the lives of children and teens at Evanston Hospital and spread holiday cheer by donating new, unwrapped toys.
Gifts can either be sent directly to the hospital via the Child Life Team Amazon Wishlist or can be dropped off at the Wilmette Fire Department, 1304 Lake Avenue in Wilmette.
To learn more about the Holiday Toy Drive contact the Evanston Child Life Team at 847-570-2831 or email kbeyer@northshore.org.