Thanks to the generosity of the community, nearly 1,400 toys, games, and creative activities were donated through Life 102.5’s (WNWC) annual Heart for Kids collection drive, bringing comfort and joy to young patients at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison.
Each year, Life 102.5 invites listeners to help brighten the days of children staying at the hospital by donating items such as LEGO sets, activity books, Play-Doh, craft supplies, and other creative toys. Donations were collected through the hospital’s Amazon wish list and in person at the Life 102.5 studios.
For children facing long or unexpected hospital stays, toys and crafts can offer an important distraction, helping make a difficult experience a little more normal and joyful.
“I am completely blown away by the number of wonderful things we’ve received and how generous and supportive your listeners have been,” said Paige, a Child Life Specialist at American Family Children’s Hospital. “The amount of kids who will enjoy these toys is innumerable and makes such a huge impact on not just their hospital stays, but their ongoing lives. It helps the hospital feel like less of a scary place to have to go or be in. The joy on a patient’s face when you present them with a LEGO set of their favorite animal, or a sketchbook and markers because they left theirs at home, is indescribable. Those looks are a huge part of why I do my job.”
Hospital Child Life teams rely on donations like these throughout the year to support patients emotionally while they receive care. Life 102.5 thanks the many listeners and community members who contributed to this year’s Heart for Kids Drive and helped bring smiles to children in the hospital.
