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Holiday donations can support the child life team
December 15, 2021
Girl playing with stuffed bunny in hospital

    Holiday donations can support the child life team

    During childhood, the holiday season takes on a special, almost mythical, kind of importance. The air changes, snow may begin to fall, and homes and shops are adorned with decorations. It’s not just a time of year, it’s a feeling. For kids spending the holidays in the hospital, our child life team helps bring that holiday spirit to life.

    How child life helps kids and families

    All year long, child life helps patients and families adjust to and cope with the hospital or clinical setting. Their evidence-based approach helps children understand illness, injury and treatments. Our team includes 10 certified child life specialists who are dedicated to making the hospital experience as comfortable and positive as possible for our kids.

    Child life specialists help support the child and family during their hospital experience, prepare children for medical procedures by explaining what will happen, help them relax as much as possible during procedures and help them process their experience through therapeutic play.

    You can help kids in the hospital too

    To make an online gift to support child life, click here and select “Child Life” in the gift designation field. To make a gift by check, please note “Child Life” in the memo field and make it out to Children’s Hospital Foundation, Box 980693, Richmond, VA 23298. Your gift can help provide the materials our team needs—from a high-tech relaxation station that will turn a hospital room into a relaxing place to a pack of crayons that enables a child to draw their feelings:

    • $1: A pack of crayons to cheer up a child and remind them of the little joys
    • $5: A pack of UNO® cards to remind a kid to keep playing
    • $15: Slime kits to squish and squeeze for stress relief and sensory play
    • $25: A stuffed animal friend or cozy blanket to make the hard things less scary
    • $100: A teaching doll to help children understand their injury, illness or treatment
    • $100: A hospital-grade play mat so babies and toddlers can safely play
    • $5,000: A distraction station to turn any hospital room into a relaxing and empowering place

    2022 child life holiday donation times and locations

    This year’s donation drop-off location is at Virginia Treatment Center for Children on our Brook Road campus (1308 Sherwood Ave).

    Drop-off dates and times are:

    • Thursday, Dec. 16, 2–6 p.m.
    • Sunday, Dec. 19, 12–4 p.m.
    • Tuesday, Dec. 21, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

    Donations are only accepted at one entrance. Look out for signage and balloons when you arrive to pull up to the correct location. Please note donations will not be accepted at this location outside of the dates and times listed above.

    Learn more about child life and how to donate.

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