All Children's Wonderland
| All Children's Wonderland | Toy and Gift Donation Contact Form |
With input from patient families who have stayed at the hospital during December holidays in the past, the Child Life Department has planned a Wonderland that will be open Dec. 23 and 24 to parents whose children are with us during that time. Parents will receive seven tickets for each hospitalized child in their family (yes, some families have been known to have more than one child at All Children's over the holidays). The tickets can be exchanged at the Wonderland for a wide variety of gift items appropriate for kids from newborns to teens. Parents will be escorted through the Workshop by volunteer Shopping Assistants who can help with gift ideas. They'll even be able to pick up needed batteries or gift wrap at stations within the Wonderland. But what the parents choose - and how they decide to use the gift items - will be totally up to them.
"Some might spend all their tickets on their hospitalized child," says Child Life Director Kristin Maier. "Others may want to get gifts for each of their children. One hospital that used a similar system shared the story of a hospitalized teen who told his dad to spend the tickets on a camera for his mom, a gift the two of them had been planning to buy all along. And that's just fine with us."
Patients who are admitted after Wonderland closes on the 24th won't be forgotten. Their families will receive an All Children's logo blanket, a stuffed toy and a gift certificate.
The All Kids Wonderland will run on donations of both toys and time. The holiday season typically sees an outpouring of community support from individuals and groups who bring in gift items for kids of all ages. Many are also looking for opportunities to volunteer their time throughout the season. This plan offers opportunities for both kinds of giving. Toy donation bins are conveniently located just inside the hospital's main entrance (see below for list of most needed items). And our Volunteer Services Department is lining up Wonderland staff from existing volunteers, employees and groups hoping to provide volunteer hours during the Dec. 23-24 crunch. Contact the Volunteer Resources office at 727-767-4254 for more information.
