Pictured above: Nashville Parent Editor-in-Chief Susan Day drops off a cart full of new toys to Champ’s Toy Store at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
‘Tis the season of giving, and Nashville Parent is thrilled to be involved with a great initiative this year by donating new toys to Champ’s Toy Chest for the 2016 Champ’s Holiday House serving families with children in the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt during the Christmas season.
As part of our annual Toys of the Year coverage, Nashville Parent partnered with several major toy companies this year that sent lots of brand-new, hot-item toys for us to donate to local kids and families in need this holiday season.
Nashville Parent thanks the following toy companies for participating in this wonderful giving back initiative: Fisher-Price, American Girl, Playskool, Just Play, Mattel, Schleich, Hasbro, Playgro, Wicked Cool Toys, Playmobil, LEGO, LeapFrog, MegaToys, Auldey, Crayola and Kids Preferred.
Champ’s Toy Chest and Holiday House provides free-of-charge “shopping” to families with kids in Children’s Hospital. Along with picking out toys for their hospitalized child, parents can also select gifts for the other kids in their immediate family. It’s a great cause to help families who are dealing with a big financial burden with hospital bills, and it also helps the families maintain a sense of normalcy during the holiday season.
If your family would like to get into the spirit of giving, you too can donate new toys on Dec. 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital (right across the street from Children’s Hospital). To access the drop-off location, you’ll turn onto 22nd Avenue from Blakemore and pull up to the drop-off sign. Staff and volunteers will assist you in unloading your donations.
Because it’s a hospital, donations are handled a little differently than other non-profits. The main focus is keeping young patients healthy and safe, so there are certain items they are unable to accept. You can find the list in the Donation Guidelines & Frequently Asked Questions.
For more info, e-mail Kelsey Gothard at champstoychest@vanderbilt.edu or call 615-322-2379.
