Proudly Serving Paediatrics
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Starlight Children’s Foundation recently presented a gift of $2,000, thanks to funds raised locally in store at Toys ‘R Us, to support the purchase of DVD players and hand held gaming devices in the Paediatric Department of the Hospital. Pictured here are (l-r): Lauren Floyd, Children’s Services Coodinator, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Tracy Switzer, Store Director, Toys ‘R Us and Mandi Merkley, Child Life Specialist, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. |
By Heather Vita - October 28, 2017
The Starlight Children’s Foundation has been a bright light in the lives of children across Canada for over twenty three years. Nowhere is this more evident than their ongoing donations to the Paediatric Department of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. This year they made a gift of $2,000 to support the purchase of portable DVD players and gaming devices to help young patients pass the time as they wait in the Department.
Mandi Merkley, Child Life Specialist in Paediatrics remarked, “It is so helpful to have gifts like this that support much-needed items in our Department. Anything that we can do to keep kids’ minds off an upcoming procedure is welcomed. We want to make sure their potential anxiety is kept to a minimum, and a fun distraction like a DVD or handheld game is just the right thing to do so.”
The Starlight Children’s Foundation works closely with Toys ‘R Us each year to raise funds locally through in-store donations at the till in late Fall/early Winter. Store Director, Tracy Switzer, has seen our community step up each year to support this program and knows the importance of having the funds raised stay local to our Hospital. “It’s incredibly important,” she said. “When people hear they can make a difference to the care kids get here, they are extremely generous in their giving.”
Back again this year by popular demand is the special collectible bear that’s available for purchase for a limited time. Proceeds from the sales of the bear, which is designed by a child, also support the many donations made by Starlight Children’s Foundation across the country. Bears are available for purchase at Toys ‘R Us for $20 starting now.
Lauren Floyd, Children’s Services Coordinator at Starlight Children’s Foundation was delighted to be present to make the donation and said, “It is our sincere pleasure to be able to make this donation thanks to the generous gifts that were made to our Foundation. Starlight works to help kids leave ‘sick’ behind and I know this will be accomplished with the items that are being purchased for the Paediatric Department.”