Ways to give this holiday season: SickKids gift donation guidelines

Being in hospital during the holiday season can be tough for patients and their families. Staff and volunteers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) do their best to create a fun and familiar environment for families, in efforts to normalize the hospital experience.

The community helps SickKids support these families by generously donating toys, books, games and other gifts that help entertain and comfort children during their hospital stay. These items go beyond the holidays and are also used throughout the year for therapeutic play with a Child Life Specialist, as birthday presents for patients, as rewards after completing a test or procedure, and simply as entertainment and distraction.

If you are planning to donate items to SickKids this holiday season please check out the holiday donations page on our website first and if you have any questions please connect with the Donations Coordinator. There are several ways to support SickKids families this year, including:

• Gift-in-kind donations/toy drives: donations of unwrapped brand new toys, books, electronics, crafts and other items. Please see donation guidelines and wish lists.
• Gift card donations: small value gift cards to toy stores, art supply stores, electronic stores, big box stores or grocery stores and gas stations help to offset expenses for families who need a little help over the holidays as well as provide patients with some choice in what they receive as a gift.
• Financial donations to SickKids Foundation: financial donations help us purchase the items we do not receive through gift-in-kind donations – so that special needs toy or unique item that will make a patient’s day! You could also direct your financial donation to the Patient Amenities fund.
• Get Better Gifts is another option for holiday giving through SickKids Foundation: https://getbettergifts.sickkidsfoundation.com/collections/holiday-gifts

Due to patient safety, privacy, and infection control policies, SickKids cannot accept all gift-in-kind donations and donors cannot give the items directly to the patients. SickKids created the donations guidelines to ensure that the community’s generosity is fully appreciated and put to good use during the season of giving. SickKids is accepting gift-in-kind donations until Wednesday, December 13. The other ways to donate do not have a deadline.

Please note that gift in kind items that do not meet the guidelines or that are delivered past the deadline will be donated to other partner agencies in the local community. For more information on other ways to support SickKids, please visit the Ways to Give website.