Once again this year, we are launching a very special toy drive for the children who will be spending Christmas in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. We are very excited to continue our partnership with Baltimore County Breaking News (BCoBN) in seeking countywide support for gathering toys and essential needs.

In 2016, we raised over $1,100 and provided much-needed toys and entertainment games to the children. Last year, in 2017, we nearly doubled that amount for the children at Sinai Hospital.

This year, our goal is to raise $3,000 in toys, electronics, and art supplies for these brave children, who occupy 26 unique rooms. Many of these items on the list are “consumables” by the children, as they cannot share items due to the possibility of shared germs. This is why some of the quantity levels are high. Collectively, we hope to provide toys, electronics, and art supplies for all of the children.

We offer three ways in which you can help.

First, you can go directly on Amazon and shop from the Wish List provided to us by the nurses at Sinai. Most items are between $3 and $15, and almost all of them are listed as prime items for free shipping for prime members. Simply go to https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AOEG3J509B9Q?type=wishlist&filter=all&sort=default and begin shopping!

Second, you can purchase the items on the list (we’ve added it below for your convenience) and drop off the gifts to us directly at our home by Friday, December 20. Email us at rusvw13@icloud.com for address and directions.

Third, you can offer a monetary donation for us to do the shopping for you. You can even specify what items you would like us to buy. Simply go to PayPal.com and send your donation to rusvw13@icloud.com.

We encourage you to share this list both online and in person with your schools, churches, businesses, and community organizations. We rely on you spreading the word to help reach as many people as possible.

In addition, the BCoBN Team is challenging all fire stations and police precincts to chip in and offer donations.

Together with the BCoBN Team, we will be delivering the presents to the children at Sinai on Christmas Eve. We know we can count on our friends throughout Baltimore to brighten their holidays once again this year.

In 2016, I initiated our first annual drive by donating 100% of the proceeds from sales of my Amazon Bestseller anthology of Christmas stories, essays, and reflections. To read the complete story of why we are doing this, including the feature story, “Gretchie’s Gifts,” you can download your own digital copy for just 99 cents today (free to Kindle Unlimited members). Simply click the book title to download Faith, Hope & Legacy: A Collection of Christmas Reflections. All we ask is that you consider making a donation in any of the three ways mentioned above. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of Faith, Hope & Legacy go to the children at the Sinai PICU.

Your small donation is huge to these children. Deadline for Amazon orders is December 15. Monetary and drop-off donations are accepted through December 20.

Once again, here’s the link to the Amazon Wish List:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/14RZHD7VLF2P?&sort=default

Thank you, and God bless.
Rus, Amy, Sally, and Faith and the team of Baltimore County Breaking News

2018 The Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai PEDIATRIC WISH LIST

We can only accept new, unwrapped items.

Infant & Toddler

*Little Tikes Wagon – 1

Exersaucer – 1

PLASTIC train sets & PLASTIC Train cars – 3

Infant/Toddler toys (BPA FREE) – As many as possible

Paw patrol toys – 15-20

Rattles (BPA FREE) & All Silicone Chewing Toys – 15-20

Pop up toys – 3-5

Crib Mobiles (All plastic – no fabric – Nurture Smart Mobile ONLY) – 1

Little People play sets & figurines – 10-15

Teens

*Gift Cards ($5, $10, $15, $20 – I-Tunes, Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Amazon, Subway) – As many as possible

*Phone chargers (IPhone & Droid) – 3-5

Nail Polish – 15-20

Chap Stick – 15-20

Pajamas (adult sizes – women & men) – As many as possible

Adult coloring books & colored pencils – 10-15

Earbuds – 20-30

Headphones & Speakers (to attach to phones) – 10-15

Remote control cars & helicopters – 3

Uno Cards & Regular playing cards – As many as possible (especially UNO)

Sports Teams items (hats, lanyards, etc) – 15-20

Toys

*Lego sets – As many as possible

*Dinosaurs (Small & Medium) – 10-15

Fisher Price Play Sets and Little People (All plastic) – 15-20

African American & Caucasian Baby Dolls – 10-15

Shopkins, My Little Pony, Littlest Pet Shop Figures – 20-25

Disney Princess Figures – 15-20

Small/Medium Action Figures (Batman, Spiderman, Ninja Turtles, Rescue Bots, Paw Patrol, etc.) – 15-20

Cars/Trucks – 15-20

Hot Wheels cars – As many as possible

Play food, dishes, pots & pans – 2-3 sets

Remote controlled cars & vehicles – 2

Nerf Basketball Sets and Footballs – 5-10

NEW Stuffed animals (with sewn eyes ONLY) – As many as possible

Electronics and DVDs

Playstation 4 controllers – 3

Playstation 4 charging cords – 3

Playstation 4 games (NO rated ‘M’) – 10-20 (Only rated E and T)  

Portable DVD Players – 3-5

*Current children’s movies – 10-15

*Current Teen DVDs (No Rated R) – 10-15

Remote Controlled Cars – 2

Batteries (AA, AAA, C, & D) – 20-25

Light Spinners – 10-15

Crafts & Games

*Classic Board Games – 10-15

*Uno & Regular Cards – As many as possible

*Small lego kits/Bionicles/Lego Friends – As many as possible

Play-Dough regular size – As many as possible

Play Dough Toys – As many as possible

Elmer’s Glue & Glue Sticks – As many as possible

Coloring Books (Adult & Children) – 15-20

Colored Pencils – 30-40 packs

8 & 24 packs Crayons& Toddler packs of crayons (Larger crayons) – 30-40 packs

Markers (Washable) – 30-40 packs

Children’s Scissors – 30-40

Kids’ Stickers – As many as possible

Washable Paints – 15-20 packs

White paper drawing pads – 5-10 pads

Construction Paper – 5 packs

Sun Catchers and Paints – 20-25

Wooden crafts to paint w/paint – 20-25

Box/Bagged Craft Activity Sets – 15-20

Key rings – 15-20

Beaded Key chains – 15-20

Pipe Cleaners (metallic and normal colors) – 3 packs

Beads (all sizes, colors & varieties) – 5 packs

Elastic String – 5

Perler Beads (Iron to make key chains) – 5-10 packs

Word Searches, Sudoku, & Crossword – 15-20

Journal Books – 5-10

Spiral Sketch Books – 5-10

Our Greenspring Pediatric Clinic has some needs:

New picture books, board books, and early readers – As many as possible

Step into reading books – As many as possible

Chapter books (school-age & teen) – As many as possible

Character Band-Aids: any (LATEX FREE ONLY) – 30-40 packs

Beads – 20-25 packs

Colored paper – 10-15 packs

Crayons – 30-40 packs

Markers (washable) – 30-40 packs

Children’s scissors – 30-40

Stickers – As many as possible

Glue (Elmer’s & glue sticks) – 30-40

Small craft kits – 20-30

Bubbles – 20-30

Mini coloring page kits – 20-30

Lego sets & Lego Friends sets – As many as possible

Hot Wheel cars – As many as possible

Fisher Price Little People figurines and sets – 20-25

Baby rattles (BPA FREE) – 10-15

Figurines (action, hero, & princess) – As many as possible