Alder Hey Children's Hospital Donations

[beckyvardy]

Hi

Every year we make or Donate to Alder Hey Children's Hospital as it's local to my family and me.

I usually make Christmas Eve boxes or buy selection boxes.

This year I haven't had the space to make or store the Christmas Eve boxes.

We have budgeted for about £100.

Are there any nurses or anyone that works here that could let me know if selection boxes are good or if there is anything else that would be better?

Thanks in advance.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

My sons both have treatment at AH.
Life saving treatment in my youngest sons case.
Eldest DC has hemi cp, youngest DC has multiple disabilities including chromosome , genetic disorder, epilepsy, sleep disordered breathing which he needs oxygen for , respiratory issues from being prem, endocrinology, brain injury etc etc .
So I always donate at Christmas too.
DC2 has been in over Christmas and was showered with amazing gifts.
I usually ring critical care , neurology & respiratory ( as they are our usual admissions ) and ask what DVDs they would like and buy a bag full of new and second hand from FB market place because believe it or not people do walk off with DVDs from the hospital!
I also take selection boxes and sensory toys to A&E.
Hope this helps

Thank you that's great advice I will call up those you suggested and see if there is anything xxx

I do t know about Alder Hey, but the children's hospital I work at will be drowning in selection boxes. We are usually giving them out for weeks! Not sure what else to suggest though. Maybe little things for teenagers. We are also drowning in toys particularly for younger kid.

I work in a different children's hospital and we are not meant to take donations of selection boxes (and Easter eggs at Easter) because we should promote healthy diets and teeth for the children. That was a very controversial decision. We also have many children who are unable to eat chocolate (some of them can't eat anything) so they are not so good. Does Alder Hey have a fundraising department? Probably they will be in charge of organising donations for Christmas. Call them and ask what is needed. I imagine gifts suitable for older DC and teenagers because people probably donate more stuff for small children.

Try the fundraising team. My local hospital that cared for my son in NICU has an Amazon wishlist for gifts for children and young people in hospital over Christmas - you could be really helpful for 100 quid.

Our local hospital has a fundraising team who have set up an Amazon wishlist with required toys/crafts for the ward. They get lots of selection boxes gifted and often some of the children can't have anything from them for one reason or another. Such a kind thing to do though!

@happypotamus, seriously? That's terrible! You should see the new menus that we provide. It's mainly chocolate, cake and crisps!

I don't care what the patients eat, as king as they are eating!

They have some guidelines op www.alderheycharity.org/joinusjoinin/ways-to-help/donate-toys-games-or-other-gifts/

Thank you all.

I e never looked on their donations page it's so obvious now!

I've usually just rocked up with things.

I will give them a ring tomorrow and see what they say.

@toddlerteaplease
yes, seriously, and we do have the problem that there are healthier menus with things that kids don't want to eat, so their parents have to go out to mcdonalds and get them food anyway!
I can kind of see the point the hospital is trying to make about childhood obesity and terrible dental health, but when a child is very ill you just want them to eat something. People/ shops used to donate chocolate advent calendars and that has been stopped now.
Sorry, OP, this debate is not so relevant to your thread, but thank you for thinking of the hospital. I can guarntee that the patients will be very grateful as I have spent many Christmas Eves helping allocate donated toys to my patients and seeing them open the gifts on Christmas Day

Yes it's lovely. And really lovely to be able to give things out to kids who've fallen off their new bikes and broken something. It really cheers them up!

Our play specialists are currently dishing out chocolates as I type and everyone is suddenly very happy!