Queens Courier readers, advertisers and staff stepped up to the plate in a big way bringing in hundreds of gifts for youngsters at Schneider Children’s Hospital.
“The gifts that you all have brought will really impact all the children in the hospital from the tiniest newborns all the way up to our teenagers,” said Ann Marie DiFrancesca, director of child life at Schneider.
“It really is something that will help brighten their holiday season whether they celebrate Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanza or any of the holiday festivities. It truly gives them something to look forward to, and it truly gives them some small token of happiness while they are here. It really takes their mind off of their illness for a period of time.”
Right after Thanksgiving, The Queens Courier announced that it was partnering with Schneider Children’s Hospital – a teaching hospital in New Hyde Park that provides comprehensive care for children ranging in age from infants to young adults – to provide gifts for some of its patients. For three weeks, The Queens Courier asked for help from its readers to fulfill gift wishes for children ranging in age from newborns to teenagers.
Dozens of readers from throughout the borough came by The Queens Courier office and dropped off gift bags for youngsters of all ages. After the hundreds of gifts received some dressing up with bows and ribbons compliments of The Courier’s own Jessica Lyons, all of the gifts were loaded into two cars and dropped off at Schneider on Friday, December 18 – just in time for Christmas.
“Being in the hospital is a phenomenally traumatic experience for both the child and their families,” said Dr. Arthur Klein, executive director and chief of staff at Schneider. “These toy donations make the hospital a little bit less austere and a little more like home for these kids.”
Schneider has 154 beds and treats youngsters who have everything from childhood diseases to cancer and epilepsy. After Queens Courier staff members dropped the gifts off at the hospital, child life staff members were going to bring the gifts to the youngsters and their families.
“You always hear about negative things in the media, so I think when you have good people in our communities that are reaching out, I don’t think it gets publicized as much, and I know our families are so eternally appreciative,” DiFrancesca said.
