Organizations collecting toys for young cancer patients

  • Published
  • By Warren Russo
  • Global Command and Control System-Air Force acquisition manager
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The third annual "Bright Night" toy collection for Children's Hospital is underway, with collection bins positioned primarily in Building 1604 this week. Designed to cheer seriously ill young patients, the campaign provides the Boston hospital with a supply of toys they can distribute all year long.

"We thought that maybe more people would be interested in donating some toys during the spring season, when nothing is going on, as opposed to the Christmas season," said Jennifer Carrion, a toy drive volunteer.

Rather than distributing all of the donated toys to children at one time, the hospital uses them throughout the year to cheer up those children who may have just had surgery or painful cancer treatments.

Last year's effort resulted in "an SUV load of toys," according to Susan Cunningham, one of the key organizers for the event, "and we're hoping for even more this year with the help of our new allies."

Primary sponsor of the collection is the Junior Force Council (JFC), aided this year by the Company Grade Officers Council (CGOC) and PK Intern Council (PKIC).

The hospital provides continuing care as children grow, with a team of medical professionals, surgeons and primary care physicians who follow their patients throughout their lives with quarterly follow-up visits, according to Ms. Cunningham, a former cancer patient there.

"Children's Hospital isn't just for children," she said. "They treat everyone from infants to adults, specializing in cardiac care and cancer treatment."

Referring to her own medical team at Children's, she said, "They are special people that you meet along the way who touch your heart and stay with you forever."

The Bright Night collection of new, unwrapped toys ends May 20, and donors can reach the bin in the outer lobby of Building 1604 without an access card. Toys will be delivered to the hospital the week of May 23. For further information about donating, contact Jennifer Carrion at 781-225-0067.