MAKE CARE PACKAGES FOR SICK KIDS IN HOSPITALS

Imagine being stuck in the hospital, without books, magazines, games, toys, or anything to cheer you up and help you pass the time.

You can probably relate to how boring and depressing that would get after a while. Now imagine you're a little kid. Pretty tragic, isn't it?

Sadly, that bleak picture is a reality for many children. Every year, millions of sick children are hospitalized. Many of these kids are from low-income families, where the parents are struggling just to pay medical bills. These families often can't afford luxuries for their kids like toys, games and reading material.

Doctors and nurses in hospitals are busy. They take care of so many kids, they don't always have time to cheer up individual children. So with little cheering up from adults, and no toys or games to play with, sick children in hospital can spend most of their waking hours staring at walls and sterile medical equipment, when they're not undergoing painful treatments.

Boredom can turn into depression, which can lessen the chances that these children will eventually recover from illness, and leave the hospital.

When you create a care package for sick children in hospitals, you give them a reason to smile!

Getting a care package lets a sick child know that somebody care about her/him. Your donation of books, comics, toys, games, or stuffed animals can provide entertainment and distraction for a sick and needy child.

By giving away something you've outgrown, you can make a bigdifference in the life of a sick and lonely child!

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

Toys, stuffed animals, reading material and other items for donation should be clean and in good condition. If it's a game, make sure all he necessary parts are included and it's in good working order. The packages are generally given to young children, so keep that in mind and choose appropriate items for your care package. DO NOT donate items that require batteries, which will eventually run out.

Create a "Welcome Box" for your local Ronald McDonald House, which will deliver your package to a needy child in hospital. You can include fun toys, a copy of your favorite paperback book, pens and notepads, magazines, crayons, pencil crayons, coloring books, and so on. Use the link provided to find the closest location to you, and contact them to ask about specific items that are needed, and to arrange for donation of your care package. (U.S., Canada and International)

You can also donate your care package directly to a local children's hospital. Check your phone book or Yellow Pages under "Hospitals."