From toy drives, fulfilling holiday wish lists, hospital holiday stores, winter coats, MemoryMakers, SmileMakers, to Elf on the Shelf, Winter Wonderland, and New Year's Eve celebration kits—December was a very busy month for Friends of Kids with Cancer.
Friends of Kids with Cancer helps local businesses and community partners host toy drives, fundraisers, and tailored giving opportunities that help employees collaborate for the purpose of supporting our mission during the season of giving.
Many area businesses host toy drives, raffles, donate percentages of sales, and any number of unique ways to support.
While donations are in full-swing, patient families receive so much programming in December. Patients in treatment at our partnering hospitals don't miss out on holiday fun. They enjoyed weekly Elf on the Shelf shenanigans to inspire their magical spirits and creative minds. They had the opportunity to "shop" for their families at the Friends Holiday Store—an area where we placed gifts for all ages for patients to choose. Many patients picked out gifts for their parents, siblings, and grandparents. Gifts were wrapped by jolly volunteers.
Patients in treatment also received New Year's Eve celebration kits with disco balls, noise makers, beads, and more.
Over 350 coats were delivered to patients and their siblings along with hats and gloves, to keep warm this winter.
One of the biggest programs we offer during the holiday season is our Adopt-a-Family gift drive, where donors volunteer to buy a family's entire wish list for the holiday season. Presents were wrapped and delivered to families prior to Christmas. Nearly 50 families received full wish list gifts.
The holiday season is a common time for giving, and Friends of Kids with Cancer provides programming all year long. We accept donations throughout the year and encourage individuals and businesses to engage with us through our many fundraising events or by creating their own fundraisers throughout the year.
