Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month Toy Drives - 9 years of giving

Every September since 2016, in honor of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, we've partnered with local children's hospitals to help fill their toy closets.
 
Toys are a comforting "normal" for pediatric patients facing serious illnesses, bringing comfort and hope. Here's a look back at our campaigns throughout the years...

2024 - Toddler Toy Box
The 2024 toy drive is focused on toys and books for babies and toddlers. Little ones have the longest average hospital stays and need age-appropriate toys like board books, rattles, and teethers. Our goal is to collect and deliver 1,000 toys to local hospitals. 

2023 - Be a Game Changer
Our team collected all kinds of games, like card games, puzzles, and even video games and game consoles, for local pediatric patients. We donated a total of 1,025 games to local hospitals. 



2022 - Squish Out Cancer
Squishmallows are one of the most commonly requested toys at the hospitals. We collected Squishmallows of all shapes and sizes for pediatric patients, donating more than 1,100 squishy friends to pediatric patients.

 

2021 - Creating Courage
A creative outlet can be a great distraction for kids facing serious health issues. Creating Courage collected more than 1,000 creative items like coloring books, crayons, sewing kits, sketch pads and more for patients. 

 

2020 - Build Hope
During the pandemic, hospital playrooms were shut down to limit contact points, so hospitals needed bedside play for patients. LEGOs are easily disinfected and a fun pastime for patients, so our team collected and donated 850+ sets to the hospitals. 

 

2019 - Cruisin' for a Cure
In 2019, Children's Hospital of Michigan was part of a pilot program(Opens in a new Window) allowing children to drive into surgery and other procedures on mini ride-on cruisers, controlled by a parent. CCF donated 21 ride-on cruisers to the local children's hospitals. 

 

2018 - Teddy Bear Drive
Our third teddy bear drive brought in more than 500 teddy bears and other stuffed animals for pediatric cancer patients. 



2017 - Teddy Bear Drive
Our second teddy bear drive brought in 400+ teddy bears and other stuffed animals for pediatric cancer patients. Freddy the Teddy's appearance on the news brought in donations from all around the metro Detroit area. 

 

2016 - Teddy Bear Drive
Our very first toy drive in 2016 was a teddy bear drive for the Children's Hospital of Michigan, collecting 300+ teddy bears for patients.