Help bring comfort and joy to hospitalized kids year round by participating in the special toy and donation drive
TAMPA, Fla., July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- St. Joseph's Children's Hospital treats thousands of Tampa Bay's children every year. Whether they arrive by ambulance, are recovering from open-heart surgery or undergoing cancer treatment, they receive the finest medical treatment, emotional support and loving care available. But they have other special needs - play and distraction from their illness - that are met with the help of generous people throughout the community.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120724/DC45806 )
To continue meeting this need, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital is collecting monetary donations and new, unwrapped toys during a special "Christmas in July" drive. The items will be used to entertain and comfort hospitalized kids throughout the year.
"Medical settings are a new, unfamiliar world for most children, and providing them with a toy or activity can bring a momentary escape from the hospital experience and their illness," said St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Child Life Supervisor Leah Frohnerath. "A well-stocked toy closet ensures that patients receive a gift on holidays, birthdays, during significant milestones in their treatment and whenever they need additional comfort."
Here's how you can make a difference:
- Make a monetary donation online or select a gift from our virtual toy store at StJosephsChristmas.org.
- Make a monetary donation by texting STJOES to 85944.*
- Drop off new, unwrapped toys and donations in the circular drive in front of St. Joseph's Children's Hospital during the special "Christmas in July" community event Friday, July 27, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Donation requests include gift cards, electronics, kid-friendly movies, puzzles, arts and crafts supplies, infant toys, crib mobiles and teen games.
For more information about "Christmas in July," to make an online donation or to see a detailed wish list, please visit StJosephsChristmas.org.
*A one-time donation of $10 will be billed to your mobile phone bill. Messaging and data rates may apply. Donations are collected for St. Joseph's Children's Hospital by mobilecause.com. Reply STOP to 85944 to stop. Reply HELP to 85944 for help. For terms, see www.igfn.org/t.
About St. Joseph's Children's Hospital
As Tampa's first dedicated children's hospital, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital is designed to meet the unique needs of children and their families by providing high-tech pediatric health care in a family-centered, child-friendly environment. Part of the BayCare Health System, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital is the third largest children's hospital in Florida, providing more acute medical and surgical pediatric care than all other hospitals in Hillsborough County.
About BayCare Health System
BayCare Health System is a leading community-based health system in the Tampa Bay area. Composed of a network of 10 not-for-profit hospitals, outpatient facilities and services such as imaging, lab, behavioral health and home health care, BayCare provides expert medical care throughout a patient's lifetime. With more than 200 access points conveniently located throughout Tampa Bay, BayCare connects patients to a complete range of preventive, diagnostic and treatment services for any health care need. For more information, visit BayCare on the Web at BayCare.org.
SOURCE St. Joseph's Children's Hospital
