St. Luke's Children's is still planning on accepting gifts for the hospital's youngest patients this year.
Santa's Toy Box through St. Luke's Chirldren's, but will ask people to make an appointment for toy drop off to protect the health and safety of both patients and employees, according to St. Luke's.
“This week, I have been getting one to three calls a day from the community to share with us the news about their school toy drives, or from patients who last year benefitted and want to give back,” said Sherry Iverson, St. Luke’s Children’s Director of Patient and Family Support Services, in a statement. “It truly reminds and humbles us to see this generosity from our community.”
The event relies fully on items donated by the community and are arranged into a shopping area with holiday decorations, music and refreshments. Parents with a child in the hospital are then invited to shop for every child in the family, free of charge, according to the hospital. Hospital volunteers then wrap the gift and deliver it to the child so they can "experience the joy of Christmas and Hanukkah, even while in the hospital."
The toys are also distributed to other St. Luke's Emergency Departments, NICUs and other clinics around southwest Idaho.
Anyone can donate new and unwrapped toys, games books or art supplies for kids of all ages as well as wrapping supplies. The most needed items this year include baby board books, rattles, Lego sets, teen gifts, balls of all types and gift cards for kids and family games, according to St. Luke's.
To make an appointment, call 208-381-1163 or email mabbutte@slhs.org.
Appointments are available at the Idaho Elks Children’s Pavilion located at 305 E. Jefferson St. on Dec. 18-19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and again on Dec. 21-23 from 1-5 p.m. St. Luke’s Children’s is also accepting toy donations by appointment only Dec. 14-17 at the St. Luke’s Children’s Administration building located at 209 W. Main St. in Boise.
