Emily Fawcett, 7, of Glendale, wanted to collect a lot of toys for John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital as a way to say thank you for her excellent care after a serious dog bite. A lot, she said, is 100 toys.
By the time the now second-grader finished her Emily's Toys 4 Joy drive, she donated more than 600 new toys to Mendy's Place, the 24-hour children's emergency center at Deer Valley Hospital, and KidsZone, the pediatric floor of the hospital. Deer Valley Hospital is located at Loop 101 and I-17 in Phoenix.
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| Emily Fawcett and Mendy, the mascot of Mendy's Place, the 24/7 children's emergency center in Phoenix, Arizona, at John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital. |
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"It was truly unbelievable to see what the family was able to collect during their Emily's Toys 4 Joy events," said Danielle Manrique, child life specialist at Deer Valley. "The donations were overwhelming."
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Using donated gift cards for Walmart, Michaels and Staples, along with cash donations, Manrique acquired toys and supplies, worth several hundred dollars, for specific needs.
Manrique stocked the arts and crafts supplies for the playroom with crayons, markers, paint, Play-Doh, new games and toys. She also bought toys such as bubble blowers and light-up toys to distract and relax children.
The donated toys — ranging from Barbie dolls to cars to stuffed animals — will be rewards for children and used to restock Andrea's Closet, a toy closet set up to honor Andrea Brunk, who died in 2002.
The Fawcett family held community events at Starbucks and Peter Piper Pizza. Collection bins for Emily's Toys 4 Joy were in more than 60 locations throughout the Valley including Starbucks, Olive Garden, Staples, Peter Piper Pizza and Sanderson Ford Lincoln Mercury.
"I had so much fun," Emily said. "I definitely want to do this again. We got so many toys, and I want to tell everyone thank you!" |