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Thursday, November 1, 2012

UCSF Holiday Toy Drive

Our loot collected last year

It's that time of year again. The last 2 years we have gathered toys and delivered them to UCSF for the children who are hospitalized over the holidays. UCSF is very near and dear to our hearts (literally!!) as we spent 2 months there the first year of Owen's life. The Child Life program is fantastic, but like all wonderful programs, they need help. The first year we mailed a large box to SF, and last year we had to take our truck down to the city to deliver the goods! It was so much fun to bring family and friends together, and then deliver the toys.

Since we have ~1.5  months (no planned date yet to deliver), if you see any items on the wish list while you are out and about, go for it! I have been keeping my eye on items from the last year for when they go on sale.

Here is their wish list and rules:


Child Life Department 

Toy Donation Guidelines
These guidelines help to ensure donations are appropriate and safe for hospitalized children. Please follow these guidelines when selecting items for donation.

  • Because of infection control issues, toys should be new
  • Please do not wrap gifts. 
  • No stuffed animals. 
  • No weapons or violent games of any kind, please.
  • Please make sure that glue, paint, markers or crayons are non-toxic.
  • No latex balloons.

Greatest Needs____________ ____           ____________ ____________
* Teen items * Light spinners * Video games, E or E10
* Fisher Price doctor kits * Interactive noise and light up toys * Batteries (especially C)
* Art supplies, art kits * CDs (children/teen music) and CD players
* Fisher Price Little People * Books/CDs in Spanish, Russian, Arabic Chinese

Toys/Gifts
These are some ideas and suggestions for different age groups and activities.  

For infants:  nesting cups, plastic rattle, crib mirrors, clothes, white noise machines, texture balls, infant clothes, play mats, plastic crib mobiles.  

For toddlers and school age:  small cars and trucks, pop up toys, interactive toys, playdough, Brio and plastic train cars, musical instrument kits, musical toys/instruments, all-plastic multicultural dolls, plastic animals and dinosaurs, bubbles, board games, stickers

For teens: gift cards (I-tunes, Best Buy, Amazon, Xbox Live, Play Station, etc), art/bead kits, journals, headphones, backpacks and purses, make up kits, baseball hats, board games, sports balls, DVDs, perfume/cologne, video games 

For parents and families: scrapbooking items (HP photo paper and HP Printer ink #110, Pioneer 8x8 scrapbooks), novels, magazine subscriptions, toiletries, word games/activity books, phone cards, food/entertainment gift cards, individually wrapped snacks

For Creative Arts Program:  tabletop easels, modeling clay, paint set, drawing pads, bed easels, art store gift cards, small portable music stands, beginner level instructional books, portable digital recording devices, guitar picks
Thank you for your interest in supporting the children, teens, and families at 
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.
 If you have any further questions please contact Audrey Muntz at (415) 353-1203.

You can contact me: chelsea.britton@yahoo.com or via facebook to meet up/collect toys. Or leave a comment on this post.

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