Holiday giving at SickKids

Thanks to the amazing, ongoing generosity of our community, the toy shelves at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) are full for the 2019 holiday season!

Toys donated to SickKids for the upcoming holidays will be redirected to our community partners. If you have already started a toy drive for SickKids this year, please consider giving to other organizations that support children and families in the community, including Toy Mountain.

We recognize that spending time in hospital over the holidays can be extremely difficult for families. Staff work hard to bring as much holiday spirit and joy to SickKids as possible each year. From planning special events to decorating the Atrium and having visits from Santa, we try to make sure every family has an opportunity to make special holiday memories and no child feels they’ve missed out.

Community support has always played a vital role in the many ways we care for our patients and families. These are some of the meaningful ways you can help create a fun environment for families and support some of their greatest needs when a child is in hospital this holiday season.

• The Patient Amenities Fund: The Patient Amenities Fund is a source of assistance for families who have limited financial resources and whose child is being cared for at SickKids. For qualifying families, the Fund assists families with expenses not covered or only partially covered by public health insurance and community resources. These include travel, food, accommodation, medication and medical equipment.
• Toy and Game Fund: The Toy and Game Fund enables our Child Life team to purchase toys that help healing throughout the year. These toys and games are used primarily for the purposes of recreation and therapeutic play and includes art and craft supplies, toys, games, play equipment and diversional activities to be used by Child Life staff in patient care programs and our playrooms.
• SickKids Get Better Gifts program: This symbolic giving program consists of donations towards designated funds in support of SickKids. They range from promoting healing and recovery through play to essential items SickKids needs to provide the best care.

Tax receipts will be issued by SickKids Foundation.

For more information or questions about holiday giving, please contact SickKids’ Donations Coordinator at donations.coordinator@sickkids.ca or 416-813-8787.