It’s a very busy time of year at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, and supplies of items to make life easier on patients’ families are running extremely low.

Travel-sized personal items such as toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo are needed, as well as small packages of non-perishable food items, such as raisins, snack crackers and juice boxes.

In addition, individual activity packets including supplies needed to complete a simple craft are very useful.

The donations are needed to stock the hospital’s “comfort carts,” which volunteers use to provide snacks and basic items to families in the always-busy Pediatric Emergency Department, Pediatric Acute Care Units and Inpatient Units.

Last year, about 50,000 patients visited the Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital, and more than 13,000 children were admitted to the hospital. Visit and admission rates are also high now due to increased concern about influenza.

“Especially as we approach the busy fall and winter months, donations for our comfort carts are critical,” said Stephanie Van Dyke, director of Volunteer Services. “It isn’t very often that families plan to visit the hospital, especially our Emergency Room.

“Being able to offer snacks along with items to help meet basic needs, like travel-sized toothpaste and other toiletry items, helps to ease the stress that comes along with having a sick or injured child.”

To see a list of pantry items and toy/supplies Volunteer Services is accepting, visit http://www.vanderbiltchildrens.org/interior.php?mid=1165

Donations are accepted Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and drop-offs should be scheduled with the Volunteer Services Department at (615) 322-2379.

“Collecting these donations is a perfect service project for families, schools, churches and community groups,” Van Dyke said.
 

Media Inquiries:
Laurie Holloway
Public Affairs Manager, Children's Hospital
Monroe Carell, Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
Phone: 615-322-4747
Email: laurie.e.holloway@vanderbilt.edu
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/npa