The Child Life Department at
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh: Annual Holiday Toy Drive …and Much More
By Denise S. Artman

For many, the holidays are the best time of the year. The celebrations, gift exchanges, and connecting with family and friends can create memories that often last a lifetime. For children, the anticipation leading up to the "big day" can be especially exciting. But for kids who are sick, and the families that care for them, the holidays may not hold quite the same anticipation. Those who are in a hospital may have an even more difficult experience during these otherwise happy times. At Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, there is a caring group of staff and volunteers in the Child Life Department whose aim is to ensure that all holidays are a little less stressful for
patients and their families—by organizing parties, entertainment, and of course, delivering presents. It's the season when the department holds its annual Holiday Toy Drive. And this year, the need is great.

The Child Life Department, with a dedicated staff of 30, plus volunteers, has been "creating moments" for its patients and families for over 40 years. Relying heavily on individual and corporate donations, it is responsible for providing developmental, social, and emotional support to children of all ages via services and programs administered throughout the year. The Holiday Toy drive is one of the department's most important
activities.

Denise Esposto, manager of the Child Life and Volunteer Services departments at Children's Hospital

"November through January is when we see most of our donations," notes Denise Esposto, manager of the Child Life and Volunteer Services departments. These donations are then utilized throughout the entire year for holiday and birthday gifts, special event items, programs, and to stock the 13 high-volume, "medical-free" playrooms. According to Esposto, "Pittsburghers and those in surrounding areas are so generous. But we do have a great need here. We don't charge for our services."

All patients—regardless of income, nationality, or religious belief—can participate in the programs and events the department offers. "All the programs are open to any child. No child is left behind," says Esposto. When the hospital is full, that can mean approximately 265 patients. Since the staff never really knows ahead of time how many patients the hospital will have at any given time, they plan for full capacity. Because of the current economic climate, there is a great need now for donations of all kinds.

During this upcoming holiday, all patients will receive not just one present but a handmade bag of "customized" gifts from Santa. Santa also poses for photos, which the parents of babies really appreciate. Some patients may want to get a head start by participating in a "virtual visit" with Santa, where they can teleconference with him and offer him their wish lists. These wish lists are a good way for Esposto and her staff to coordinate gifts with patient requests. For those donors wondering about the contents of the lists, and what items they can contribute, Esposto advises, "Whatever is 'hot' now is what our patients also want. Whatever healthy children want, so do sick children." She recalls a time back in the early 1980s when the Child Life Department was only a few years old. The "hot" items were Cabbage Patch dolls—and these were very hard to find. To her surprise, approximately 150 Cabbage Patch dolls appeared at the hospital unexpectedly one day. "I think it was an anonymous donation," states Esposto, who fondly recalls that moment of generosity.

In addition to the upcoming planned holiday events, the department also coordinates many other special events and celebrates various religious and international holidays throughout the year. Culturally diverse programs and events are developed based on patient representation. "We're an international hospital and children come from all over," says Esposto. "We have patients from as far away as Saudi Arabia." Some cultures may not celebrate birthdays, for instance, but for those that do, a birthday gift is given. Often, events are organized based on donations given to the hospital. Esposto and her staff then "create" themed events based on the donated items. Corporate and/or group donors sometimes "sponsor" or help implement parties or events as well. This past summer, the staff and volunteers coordinated a summer picnic and "Camp In" where all patients received pillow pets—items that were donated.

One hugely popular event at the hospital is the Annual Prom. Several hundred people—patients and their families—participated in the most recent one. Prom dresses that were dry-cleaned were donated to the Child Life Department so that all female patients were properly outfitted. Male patients were attired in tuxedo tee shirts. The staff also assists in occasional bedside visits by celebrities. And many celebrities, such as those actors/directors who recently filmed the Batman movie in Pittsburgh, surprise patients without media fanfare. Still others help by creating events outside the hospital with proceeds going directly to the Child Life Department. Esposto often sees young, healthy children ask their friends to forego giving them a birthday gift and instead donate one for a sick patient. The ideas are limitless for individual, corporate, or celebrity donors who would like to help the patients at Children's Hospital. Project ideas are always welcome: "The staff is happy to assist donors with projects that would benefit our patients," notes Esposto.

The Child Life Department also supplies and staffs 13 playrooms and the Lemieux Sibling Center, and runs numerous programs in addition to these special events mentioned. The programs include, but aren't limited to, a Discovery program where younger children learn about the hospital and staff; a Hospital School program where patients can receive tutoring from teachers from Pittsburgh Public Schools; a Pet Friend program that brings carefully evaluated dogs into the hospital to interact with patients; and a Music Therapy program that offers musical interventions to patients as they cope with their illness and hospital stay. There is also a Teen Lounge, a place where hospitalized teens can listen to music, play video games, email their friends, and engage in other teenage activities.

It is because of the generosity of individual and corporate donors that these playrooms and programs can be offered to patients and families. This "goodwill of others" is what keeps the busy Esposto motivated and excited about all that her department does to help patients and their families. She feels privileged to work at Children's Hospital and is comforted by the fact she has seen "so many patients recover."

The Holiday Toy Drive is a good time to consider donating not only presents any kid would want this holiday but also items that could be utilized by the Child Life Department throughout the course of the year. New toys, games, and other playtime supplies are always gratefully accepted by staff and patients alike. Currently, there is a need for infant and teenage items. "A lot of people think of preschool and school-age children when they are giving gifts. But, we have patients from newborn to 22 years of age," Esposto points out. For children with special needs, she suggests sensory toys that promote development. Sports clothing for all ages is also a big hit. Because of the hospital setting, safety, age appropriateness, and infection control are a few of the priorities when selecting a gift.

In the hospital, infection is always a risk. To protect the patients, the Child Life Department can only accept new items. Used toys and used stuffed animals are not accepted. Readers can donate other types of gifts as long as the guidelines posted on the Children's Hospital website are followed. For instance, craft kits with toxic paints or glues, toys made of glass or brittle plastic, or fragile toys that can break into small pieces should all be avoided. And due to the special circumstances of a hospital setting, remote controlled and/or friction-powered toys cannot be accepted.

Toy or gift-in-kind donations are accepted for the holidays through December 19, 2011. You may contact the Child Life Department to make arrangements for drop off at the hospital during business hours. Donations throughout the year can also be taken to the Welcome Desk in the main lobby of Children's Hospital in Lawrenceville (One Hospital Drive, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224). Donors are not able to personally deliver gifts to patients due to infection control and privacy concerns. Children's Hospital acknowledges gifts by donors and asks that donors complete an in-kind donation form when dropping off items. For donation of big-ticket items such as electronics, Esposto recommends contacting the Child Life Department directly. For a department-determined wish list, guidelines, and information on how to deliver a donation, visit the website: www.chp.edu. To make an online donation, visit: www.Givetochildrens.org. Checks can be made out to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Child Life Department: CL Events Fund. For more information about the Holiday Toy Drive or volunteering, contact the Child Life Department at 412-692-5022.

Denise Artman is a public relations/marketing consultant, photographer, and former educator who has an affinity for helping others. She collects items each year for the patients at Children's Hospital. She can be reached at deniseartman@yahoo.com.