TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital hosted its annual Christmas in July toy drive on Friday, bringing in thousands of dollars worth of toys to help the kids inside the hospital cope with their treatment.
“It could have been really life-threatening,” explained 17-year-old Alex Bonnano, who recently suffered a flare-up of Crohn’s Disease. “I’ve been here 23 days now, but the staff here has been amazing. Child life care has been amazing, and I couldn’t thank them anymore.”
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“It personally makes me feel really good because I know that I’m really well off with my family,” he said of the donations. “But I know that there’s probably a lot of other kids in here that are not, especially when their family can’t be there with them and I think that means a lot to them.”
The first group to arrive at the hospital’s toy drive was Jeep Girls of Florida.
“It’s amazing, it’s so cool,” said Jeep Girls of Florida Vice President Shelley Johnston. “And it’s so cool to see the faces of the kids, it’s just awesome.”
She said her group collected nearly $10,000 worth of toys in six Jeeps.
“That’s the biggest reason we do this,” Johnston said. “Because we understand what these kids are going through and want to be able to bring a little happiness to their lives.”
Here’s how hot summer was in Tampa the year you were born The toys help the Child Life team at the hospital.
“We provide an age-appropriate explanation for the procedures that they’re going to have done,” explained Child Life Specialist Hayleigh Larmore, “We help support them through some difficult times that they may be having with their medical diagnosis and help provide that comfort and support while they’re in the hospital.”
Santa, Mrs. Claus and an elf made an appearance at the toy drive, as well as food, coffee and music and a celebration for the patients inside the hospital.
“It really just means the world to our children and families that come to the hospital here,” Larmore said. “It helps provide them with support while they’re here.”
The hospital accepts donations year-round if you missed out on Christmas in July. To learn more or give money, click here .
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