The holidays were merrier for hospitalized kids at UC Davis Children's Hospital, thanks to $28,989 that was raised during the 2022 Virtual Toy Drive to buy gifts. More than 70 people also donated more than 500 toys and gifts from the hospital's Amazon wish list. These were delivered directly to the hospital.
Patelco Credit Union also offered a donation match of $10,000 to support the virtual toy drive.
"A big thank you to the community for their generosity and giving. The response and support have been amazing," said Diana Sundberg, manager of the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. "We were able to provide toys for every child who needed to stay in the hospital."
The toy drive provided free toys and gifts for every hospitalized child from infants to teens. Toys were also given to pediatric patients in UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center's pediatric infusion center and the UC Davis MIND Institute.
Additional funds will be used to support pediatric patients throughout 2023, providing toys, art supplies, music supplies, treasure box prizes and giveaways during their hospitalization. These gifts will also be used for kids visiting the cancer center and the MIND Institute. Children who celebrate their birthday in the hospital will also receive gifts, thanks to the generosity of donors.
For those who did not have a chance to donate and would like to make a contribution, the UC Davis Child Life fund is still accepting donations. Donors can also still purchase items from Child Life's Amazon wish list and have items delivered directly to the hospital.
