25 Days of Giving: Day 19

Earlier this month, our family signed up to participate in the “Adopt-A-Family” program at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center this year. It’s a program in which you are paired up with a patient family, who might need a little extra during the holiday season. It’s a confidential program, run by the Child and Family Support Division, and you are not given out information about the family, other than gender and ages of children.

The family we were paired up with had two girl (ages 3 and 9), and we strolled through various stores over the weekend, the girls had fun choosing toys  and gifts for them. Barbie dolls and a Lalaloopsy, were a must.  It’s a wonderful  program, and one which I think we’ll participate in each year. It’s so easy to give back and fun to get the girls involved.

So earlier today, right before heading home, I had our nanny drop off the girls to Connecticut Children’s so I could meet them and deliver the gifts to Child and Family Support, who would be giving the gifts to the families in the program. It was wonderful to hear them explain to Edy, from Child Life, how they picked out the gifts especially for the children.

How to Donate: Throughout the year, Connecticut Children's Medical Center collects toy donations. Toys received from the community help children cope with medical procedures, physician's visits and hospital stays. I think it’s a great way to involve your child in giving back! If you would like to donate toys or host a toy drive visit www.connecticutchildrensfoundation .org or contact the Foundation’s main number at (860)837-5700.