Laughter and surprises = good medicine

The Queens Courier and Citibank's first joint, borough-wide toy drive is in full swing and certain to bring holiday cheer and smiles to the faces of hospitalized and at-risk children, thanks to generous help from you, our readers and advertisers.
We are spending the holiday season collecting new toys for pediatric patients at Flushing and Jamaica hospitals and the children from the South Queens Boys & Girls Club.
If you would like to donate a gift for boys and girls ages newborn to 18, we urge you to drop one in a Queens Courier toy collection box located at Citibank branches throughout the borough or at our office, located at 38-15 Bell Boulevard in Bayside. The toy drive will continue until December 22.
&#8220Receiving those toys is the most amazing thing for them,” said Bibi Razack, manager of special events and projects for the South Queens Boys and Girls Club. &#8220For a lot of kids this is one of the few gifts they'll receive this season.”
Donated new toys may be unwrapped or wrapped; however, wrapped gifts should be identified on the outside with the appropriate gender and age range for the gift. As some toys will be going to the hospitals, those that can be easily cleaned are particularly appreciated.
According to Joann Ariola, director for community relations and intergovernmental affairs for the MediSys Health Network to which the Jamaica and Flushing hospitals belong, the laughter, surprises and the act of receiving a gift all help in the healing process.
&#8220It's a proven fact that bringing laughter, cheer and surprises is good medicine,” she said.