Holiday charity plug
I wanted to bring a charity that I’m a fan of to your attention. Child’s Play is a great way to support children’s hospitals by donating toys, games, books, or (if you’re unimaginative like me) plain old cash. You might be thinking, “they’re sick kids – shouldn’t we be buying them medicine or equipment or really good food or something?” Yes, by all means – I’ll pick up the open-sided MRI, and you get a year’s supply of tongue depressors. The fact is, most of us aren’t in a position to make that sort of contribution. What we are in a position to do is improve the quality of the experience for these kids and their families. Give them something fun to do besides watching cable TV.
The importance of what Child’s Play does took on new significance for me a couple weeks ago. A couple friends’ child was born early, and is now in one of the hospitals that Child’s Play supports. When I went to visit, I saw that they do a lot of make the experience “child friendly.” Instead of wheelchairs, a fleet of red wagons are lined up at the door. The walls of the lobby are lined with over-sized stuffed animals, with a fountain along one side. In the elevator, which feels like Willy Wonka’s Great Glass Elevator, the buttons are over-sized and labeled with large, easy-to-read letters. Clearly, I’m not the only one who thinks that something besides the medical supplies can be a valuable investment.
What I’m trying to say is, Child’s Play is a great way to help out some kids who really need it, and really brighten someone’s day. Please, check out their website. If you’re up to it, look at the wish list for a hospital in your area. Consider it a present for someone else and for yourself.