By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The SwedishAmerican Health Foundation and the VanVleet Family Foundation recognized Giving Tuesday by launching a monthlong toy drive to benefit pediatric patients through the holiday season and beyond.
The drive runs through Jan. 3 and will benefit UW Health Kids in northern Illinois, providing them with toys and books during their stays in the hospital. The toy drive is being put on by SwedishAmerican Health Foundation, VanVleet Family Foundation, Touching Soles and The Body Factory.
“The VanVleet Family Foundation is passionate about giving back to the community that has given us so much,” said Sue Danforth, co-founder and president of VanVleet Family Foundation and mother of NBA star Fred VanVleet. “We just want to touch families during difficult times that they have. … If we can play a small part in giving hope to someone, then we’ve done our part.”
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The drive sets out to collect new, unwrapped toys, stuffed animals, board books and art supplies for newborns to age 18. You can donate them at three UW Health sites (listed below) and The Body Factory in Machesney Park.
The drive kicked off Tuesday with an announcement at the UW Health Women and Children’s Hospital and a plethora of toys donated by Information Controls of Loves Park. The Women and Children’s Hospital, 1350 Charles St., is the only in-patient pediatric unit in the city.
Travis Andersen, president and CEO of UW Health Northern Illinois, said the toy drive ties into the hospital system’s mission of providing remarkable health care.
“Remarkable health care is about more than just curing,” he said. “It’s about compassion and empathy, understanding, listening and making a difference in people’s lives.”
Stacy Zell-Weavel, a child life specialist at UW Health in northern Illinois, said play is a vital part of helping kids cope with hospitalization.
“We have an amazing playroom that is a good, motivational thing for a somebody who maybe has just had surgery and needs to get up and walk,” Zell-Weavel said. “Then, all of the sudden they kind of forget they’re a patient and are just being a kid again.”
The toys and books help young patients be more comfortable in their environment and it can prevent them from being overwhelmed by a stay in the hospital during the holidays or other times of year.
“This is not just going to be through the holidays this will be supporting us throughout the year,” Zell-Weavel said. “We have kids who end up here for their birthdays and to have a special little gift for them so they’re able to celebrate is a great help.”
How to donate
There will be collection boxes at the main entrances of three UW Health locations and one community site. You can also make a monetary donation to the Toy Drive Fund by going HERE.
The sites are:
- UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital, 1401 E. State St., Rockford
- UW Health Women and Children’s Hospital, 1350 Charles St., Rockford
- UW Health Heart Hospital, 1401 Charles St. Entrance, Rockford
- The Body Factory, 8016 N. Second St., Machesney Park
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas