Hi! My name is Margot Swibel and I’m a Junior at New Trier High School. I am raising money to donate toys to Evanston Hospital’s Pediatric Unit to brighten the days of children receiving treatment. 100% of donations will be used to purchase toys and activities for pediatric patients. The hospital receives the vast majority of donations around the holidays, leaving a shortage in the spring and summer months.
I spend a lot of my free time working with young children at a local daycare, summer camps, and babysitting. I have incredible opportunities to form deep, meaningful, and lasting relationships with many of these children and their families. I’ve seen how difficult it is for families when kids are sick, and thrown off of their routines. I remember being in the hospital for a surgery when I was seven-years old. I felt scared and disoriented. Before the surgery, I remember someone handing me a sparkly-purple magic wand, and blowing bubbles with me. That magic wand calmed my nerves and made me feel like everything would be okay. To this day, I still have that magic wand, and it is a staple toy I bring with me when babysitting to do just that.
Your donation will help me put together care packages and activities that will bring joy, comfort, and a sense of normalcy for kids and teens going through a difficult time. Beat Street Toys has generously agreed to sell their products at cost to support this effort. I am working with staff at the Evanston Hospital to select developmental toys and activities from Beat Street. I will then have the opportunity to bring all of the toys purchased to the Evanston Hospital to be delivered to pediatric patients.
