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SickKids
Six children standing together, crossing their arms. They are wearing hospital gowns, some are wearing colourful Bravery Beads around their neck.

Donating to SickKids

Join us to heal the future.

Donate now Read our donation guidelines

At SickKids, we try our best to help patients and families feel as welcome and comfortable as they would in their own home. Donations of new toys, electronics, crafts, books, and entertainment help us bring joy and comfort to children throughout their hospital stay or appointment.  

We accept financial donations, as well as donations of brand-new items like toys, books, electronics and gift cards. We also accept donations in recognition of our SickKids staff. 

Support a holiday program

Sponsor a Family, buy a Get Better Gift, host a holiday event, donate to SickKids Family Spaces or meals for frontline staff. No matter how you give back, you’ll help spread holiday joy and support SickKids families when they need it most. 

Give for the holidays

What can I donate?

SickKids accepts several forms of donations, from monetary support to toys to entertainment. 

Donation guidelines

Monetary donations

SickKids is healing the future, through Precision Child Health (PCH). It’s a shift from one-size-fits-all medicine, to health care tailored to each unique child. Support us today to deliver PCH throughout the hospital.

Your donation in support of PCH helps us do three big things:

Diagnose faster

So kids and families feel less stress. And doctors know where to start.

Treat smarter

For less pain and fewer side effects, and faster healing. So kids get better faster.

Predict better

Knowing what’s coming arms SickKids to fight illness even better.

Make a monetary donation

Monetary donation information

For information about monetary donations, tax receipts, updating your information or cancelling your donation, view our FAQs. You can also email us at donor.inquiries@sickkidsfoundation.com or call us at 416-813-6166.

Gift-in-kind donations (toys, books, electronics) 

Deadline for holiday toy donations is on or before Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024.

Our staff are working hard to ensure we share the magic of the holiday season with our patients and families in hospital. To ensure your donations are accepted, please read through the following guidelines before donating:

  • Due to infection prevention and control policies, and for everyone’s safety, we will only accept donated items that have been approved by the Donations Coordinator in advance
  • All donations must be brand new, in their original packaging and recently purchased. Please contact the Donations Coordinator for an up-to-date list of our Holiday Wish Lists!
  • Donations cannot be dropped off inside or outside the hospital unless a drop-off has been scheduled

Items that are dropped off and do not meet our donation guidelines and acceptance criteria will be shared with our community partner agencies, such as Salvation Army and Toronto Firefighters. 

Contact the Donations Coordinator at donations.coordinator@sickkids.ca for more information.

Entertainment

Entertainment for children at SickKids is of paramount benefit for patients and their families. Often a magic show, craft workshop, musical event, or a visit from their favourite celebrity will be a highlight of the day or even their overall hospital experience.  

If you're interested in providing an entertainment event at SickKids, contact the Events Coordinator at events.coordinator@sickkids.ca for more information.

Food donations to patients and staff 

We cannot accept any food products, dietary supplements, or beverages for the patients at SickKids. This includes unopened, still-in-package food items such as candy and baked goods.  

We do accept food for staff and volunteers. If you are interested in donating food to the staff and/or volunteers at SickKids, first contact the Donations Coordinator at donations.coordinator@sickkids.ca for our guidelines. 

Other ways to support SickKids

support-sickkids-foundation-icon-small.png 5Fifty5 Shop online store

Customers can purchase gifts for their loved ones, while also buying beneficial toy items to support patients and families at SickKids from the 5Fifty5 Shop Patient Wish List. Proceeds from every single purchase at the 5Fifty5 Shop online store – owned and operated by the Women's Auxiliary Volunteers (WAV) – help fund programs that have a direct impact on the patients and families at SickKids.

Visit the 5Fifty5 Shop online store

Donation FAQs

All donations being dropped off and delivered to the hospital must be approved and coordinated by the Donations Coordinator. Please connect with the Donations Coordinator donations.coordinator@sickkids.ca to discuss this in advance of collecting or delivering donations to SickKids.

Unfortunately, SickKids cannot give tax receipts for in-kind donations. SickKids will provide a thank you letter of acknowledgment for your donation. Please contact the Donations Coordinator at 416-813-8787 if you have specific questions. 

Due to infection control policies, we can only accept brand new toys in their original packaging. Please consider donating these gently used items to local organizations such as Toronto Firefighters or Salvation Army. 

Due to patient confidentiality, safety, and infection control policies, our donors are not allowed to deliver the gifts directly to the patients. 

We are not able to distribute personal messages to patients. 

At SickKids, there are volunteer placements working with children, their families, helping staff with administrative duties, research, and on occasion, special projects. Learn more about volunteering at SickKids. 

We are not able to pick up donations. 

Non-monetary donation questions

For questions regarding gift-in-kind donations (toys, books, electronics) and drop off, please contact the Donations Coordinator at 416-813-8787 or by email at donations.coordinator@sickkids.ca

 

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