Give Joy this Holiday Season and Throughout the Year

You never know when your child is going to be sick or hurt and in the hospital. It can be a difficult time, especially during the holidays or a special occasion. To help ease the stress and anxiety for children experiencing hospitalization or illness, Child Life specialists coordinate special events, entertainment and activities throughout the year, so kids can be kids. They rely on generous donations from the community to make play activities with the children possible.

“Having a surgery or even just coming to a doctor’s appointment can be scary for children and we want to make that a better experience for patients and families. Through play, we can normalize the environment and encourage expression,” said Melissa Stover, Manager of Child Life Volunteer and Therapeutic Programs. “Toys, games, art and music make the hospital more kid-friendly and we hope we’ll always have those resources on hand to share with our kiddos.”

Children’s Mercy Volunteer Services, located at the Adele Hall Campus, is the central hub for in-kind donation drop-offs. The team makes sure the donated toys and items are safe and ready for patients, which they disperse to Child Life, outpatient clinics, emergency departments and outreach clinics in both Missouri and Kansas.

“Every patient benefits from the generous gifts provided by our community, not just the patients spending the night in the hospital,” said Kelly Kommers, Program Manager of Volunteer Services. “Some of our most needed items are new clothing with tags, infant/toddler and adolescent toys, and Happy Kits, all of which are used in a variety of areas throughout the hospital and clinics to make our patients and families feel welcome and happy during their visit with us.”