It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving

I just love that quote by Mother Teresa. She was quite a gal.

We look forward to this time of year for many reasons. One of them is our annual UCSF toy & supply drive. We started doing the drive when Owen was an infant after we had so much support in our 4 weeks at UCSF. Of course this cause is near and dear to our hearts, as we have spent over 2 months of our lives there. The length of time used to sound long, and to some it may be- but we know the reality of many children's lives is many months in the hospital.

Supporting UCSF Child Life not only supports the children but the parents as well. Many needs are to help stock the Parent Resource Room which is a small place of respite, some place to go when your kiddo is asleep, or in a procedure, or in therapy. It has a library, a coffee maker, and toiletries if you so desire. It also has a window and comfy seats, and is quiet. We visited the room a few times, it's a nice place to go for a little break.

No matter how prepared you think you may be for a hospitalization, there is something that will be forgotten. The routine and monotony of the day can get wearing on the kids so having new items to borrow from Child Life is really a treat. Owen was able to borrow new toys, and do crafts when he was up for it.

We will get the donations to UCSF and you can contact me via email @ chelsea.britton@yahoo.com comment on here, facebook, instagram, whatever works!

Here is their wish list:

Child Life Services

A hospital stay can be a challenging and unfamiliar experience for children and their families.

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Child Life Services creates opportunities for children, teens and families to play, learn, and discover every day at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. Thank you for your generosity in supporting these programs.

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 must be new.  Please do not wrap gifts.  No weapons or violent games of any kind, please.  Please make sure that glue, paint, markers or crayons are non-toxic.  No latex balloons.

 Limited need for stuffed animals.

Items of Greatest Need

 Infant Items  Light spinners  Art kits

Infant Items

 Nesting Cups  Crib mirrors  Interactive noise & light toys  Sock & wrist rattles

Toddler & School Age Items

 Electronic push button toys  Small cars & trucks (hot-wheels)  Barbies (clothes & accessories)  Interactive toys for toddlers  Musical instruments  Brio and plastic train cars  Plastic play food  Animals & Dinosaurs (plastic)  Toddler/School Age books in Spanish  Transformers

 Teen Items  Interactive toys

 Teething rings  White noise machines  Board books

 Plastic dolls (multicultural)  Play-doh & play-doh kits  Thomas Trains  Pop up toys

 Little People  Board Games  Dora and Diego toys  Stickers  Puzzles (24 to 100 pieces)  Medium sized toy cars

 Fisher Price Little People  Batteries (C & D)

 Plastic rattles  Plastic crib mobiles  Links

 Fisher Price doctor kits  Craft kits  Legos & lego kits  Musical toys

 Action figures (no guns)  Cartoon character toys  My Little Ponies  Books that make noise  Travel gamesTeen Items

 Gift cards (Target, Amazon, Best Buy)  I-tunes cards  Movie passes  Baseball hats

 Video games  Individual acrylic paint sets  Perfume/cologne

Creative Arts Items

 Drawing pads  Individual paint sets  Beginner music instr. Books  Paint by number kits

Games & Electronics

 CDs (children/teen music)  I-pads  X-Box 360 Console

Parent/Family Support Items

 Blank Journals and pens  Magazines or subscriptions (US Weekly, People, Spanish)  Wrapped candy, snacks & bottled water  Stamps, envelopes & stationery  Toiletries: Shampoo, Conditioner, nail clippers, hairbrushes  Individually wrapped snacks (popcorn, granola bars, etc.)  Chap stick  $5 Subway Cards  Kleenex  Slipper socks  Hand Sanitizer

 Art & bead kits  Backpacks  Blank CD-Rs  Teen board games/cards  Sports balls/gift cards  Metal water bottles

 Shave kits for teen boys

 Michael’s gift cards  Drawing pads  Guitar picks  Stickers

 CD players  E & E10 Games for PS4  E & E10 Games for X-Box 360

   

 Journals  Make-up sets  Headphones  DVDs  Neck pillows  Teen male t-shirts

Modeling clay Small portable music stands Glue (tacky, mod podge) Scrapbooking stickers (baby)

 Batteries (C & AA)  PS4 controllers & USB cords

 Gum, Mints  Journals & pens  Water Bottles  Crossword/Sudoku puzzles  Starbucks Gift Cards ($5)  Massage knobs/rollers  Ear plugs, Eye Masks  Hot chocolate packs,  K-Cup coffee (Regular and Decaf)  Laundry Detergent Pods  Gas cards

Another fun option is to find actual kid's wish lists on amazon. Here is the link to that:

We are in greatest need of gifts for infants and teens.  Our full wish list can be found at Amazon.com, search for  “Audrey Muntz” under Find Someone’s Wish List or go to here: Link to individual children's wish lists.

In addition to our toy drive this year we have decided to fundraise for a very sweet family. The strong 4 year old boy Paxton has Ebstein's Anomaly like Owen. Unlike Owen he has additional medical conditions that require a huge amount of care, appointments, therapy, and add uncertainty to his world.  He also has had multiple hospitalizations this year. He has been battling seizures that put him into respiratory arrest every time. His loving mother continues to be positive, shining her light on those she meets, and keeps on trucking. She has inspired me in ways she will never know. She has held my hand and heart this whole time, supported us in our journey with Owen.  My wish is to lessen her stressors in any way we can.

Our goal is to raise enough money to fund 2 plane tickets, as they have upcoming trips to Boston to see specialists.

Click here to access the "go fund me" website to donate online to Paxton and his mom Susanne.

So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, please consider any sized donation a BIG help! My mom always taught me that "every little bit helps" and I could not agree more. Thank you oh so much for reading and consider supporting one or both of our causes this season!