02/01/2023
Feb. 1, 2023
Dear 2022 Holiday Donors and Volunteers,
On behalf of the patients and families at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, thank you for your donations of time, toys, cash, gift cards, events, and talent during the month of December. There is no easy time for a child and family to visit the doctor or require hospitalization or medical services in the emergency department.
Thank you to those who helped our patients connect to the different traditions of the holiday season by sponsoring special events. As you can see from our holiday video ( https://youtu.be/o0CImkdZFPo ), patients had opportunities to make snow globes and trim mini Christmas trees. Patients also learned about Chanukah via a live interactive television show broadcast over our closed-circuit children’s TV channel, as well as Kwanzaa through a special craft event. Music filled the halls when the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra shared their talents with patients, families and staff. Distance from the North Pole did not prevent Santa from talking to our patients so he could check his list twice! Santa Connection allowed patients, even those on isolation, to visit with Santa so he could add more names to his list! Later in the month, Santa arrived via helicopter, a bit faster than his sleigh!
Thank you to the over 100 individuals and groups who collected or mailed toys of all kinds for Snowflake Station, our free holiday toyshop for parents! It took three full days to sort and organize the amazing gifts. This all happened thanks to over 125 Johns Hopkins employees and outside volunteers who donated their time to sort, shop and wrap for and with families. Over 280 families “shopped” over two days selecting gifts for their son, daughter, and/or siblings.
Whether you led a virtual toy drive at your place of work, with family and friends, or schoolmates; or donated new books and pillow cases for patients to wake up to Christmas morning, I want to thank you for your incredible efforts this year. Some of you are familiar with what it is like to be a patient in the hospital and want to give back. I know that for others, this was your first time to donate.
We received a holiday card from the parent of a long-term patient and it is her message of heartfelt thanks that I share with you.
“You guys sing handedly make hospital life fun! It is so nice to have times of fun and excitement amongst so much fear and uncertainty. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication you put into making the Children’s Hospital an enjoyable place! You provide us with a silver lining with every return trip! Happy Holidays to you all!”
Your efforts this past December gave each patient and family a chance for a positive memory from their hospital experience. Truly, the best gift you could give. On behalf of the entire Hopkins family, thank you.
Sincerely,
Patrice
Patrice Brylske, MPA, CCLS | Director | Child Life Department
Johns Hopkins Children’s Center | 1800 Orleans Street | Baltimore, MD 21287
Phone: 410-955-6276 | Fax: 410-955-6777 | E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
www.hopkinschildrens.org
