COLUMBUS, Ohio – The annual holiday wish drive at Nationwide Children’s Hospital will take place on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m.-1p.m.
Because safety remains a top priority at Nationwide Children’s, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, donors will be required to reserve a drop-off time and share details about the size of their donation. To reserve a time, click HERE.
Upon arrival, donors should follow the signage and are asked to remain in their vehicle. A staff member will collect the gifts and place the donation form in their trunk for their personal records.
Please note, hospital staff will take recommended and extra precautions to ensure everyone’s safety.
- Staff will remain at least six feet apart during donation exchanges.
- All staff will wear a mask.
- All staff attending the Wish Drive will complete a self-assessment to ensure they are well.
A gift of toys, games and activity supplies can make a big difference to children and families spending time in the hospital and the community’s generosity is appreciated.
Top 5 Wish List Items:
- Amazon, Target, and Walmart gift cards
- Teethers, rattles and plastic infant/toddler musical light up/vibrating toys (i.e., V-Tech, Fisher-Price)
- Dolls representing diversity (skin tone, ability, gender), (plastic body preferred) and action figures
- LEGO sets
- Basic art supplies: markers, crayons, colored pencils, coloring books, adult coloring books, slime kits, playdough kits, kinetic sand and craft kits
Please see below guidelines for toy donations:
- All toys & in-kind donations must be new. Because of infection control and allergies, Nationwide Children’s cannot accept used toys. This includes stuffed animals that have not been played with but have been on shelves in the home.
- Nationwide Children’s cannot accept donations with weapons or violent themes such as guns, knives, swords or other projectiles.
- Because it is dangerous to those with latex allergies, the hospital cannot accept items made of latex, such as balloons, erasers and rubber bands.
- Nationwide Children’s cares for a diverse patient population, therefore, please do not include religious messages or themes.
- Out of sensitivity for patients and families, please avoid including personal information on or with donated items. For example, tribute messages, such as “In Memory of or In Honor of,” or business information. It is permitted to include a website of an organization should families choose to learn more.
- Please do not wrap gifts
In addition to the Holiday Wish Drive on Dec. 4, the community can make a scheduled donation until Sunday, Dec. 12. Visit NationwideChildrens.org for available dates and times and other ways to help families being treated at Nationwide Children’s during the holiday season.