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Imagine having to spend days, weeks, or even months in a hospital, missing out on school and friends. Brighten a sick kid’s day with a bag full of toys, books, and games. Hold a drive to collect the goodies and deliver them to a local children’s hospital. Here’s how:

1 Choose a hospital. Each hospital has different donations rules so

be sure to contact the hospital or medical center first.

HOSPITAL:

ADDRESS:

PHONE NUMBER:

If no nearby hospital is accepting donations, contact local churches, temples, or community centers and ask if they work with children’s hospitals.

ORGANIZATION:

ADDRESS:

PHONE NUMBER:

2 Make a list. When you call them up, be ready with a few

important questions:

Collect fun stuff for sick kids

What would you like me to collect?

q Board games

q Cards

q Books for young readers

q Books for older kids

q Video games

q DVDs

q Markers/crayons

q Construction paper

q Craft materials

q Play-Doh

q Puzzles

q Blocks

q Stuffed animals

q Action figures

What condition can they be in?

q New q Gently used q Both

How should I deliver donations?

q All together q In individual “kits”

3 Get the go-ahead. Ask the principal if you can host a

drive at school. (Be ready with your Elevator Pitch from Project #24 on page 193.)

4 Set the dates. Decide how long your drive will run. A week is

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itness

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Helper #1’s Name: Contact Info:Responsibilities:

Helper #2’s Name: Contact Info:Responsibilities:

Helper #3’s Name: Contact Info:Responsibilities:

7 Get your boxes. Have everyone search their homes for large

cardboard boxes. Also ask the principal’s office or your teachers if they have boxes to spare. Decorate the boxes so they pop!

8 Spread the word. Make posters and flyers ahead of time giving

people the details. The more people know about it, the more donations you’ll get. (See Project #30 on page 216 for great poster- and flyer-making tips.) Make sure the poster has the following:

* The days of the drive

* Where the student should drop off the goodies

* What kind of stuff you’re collecting

* What kind of stuff you’re NOT collecting

* If the items must be new, be sure to say so

9 Use your lungs. Ask if you can get up during morning

announcements or homeroom. Or use your big mouth during lunch or between periods and shout out the cause.

good. Two weeks is even better! Any longer than that, and people might start to lose interest.

The drive will run from to

5 Get your teachers on board. Ask your teachers if they’ll agree to

do something crazy if you reach a certain goal, like promise to wear a ridiculous T-shirt to work or shave their head.

6 Get your friends on board. It’s more fun when you’re doing it

with your buds.

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“Listen up! Every day thousands of kids across the U.S. are stuck in hospitals. They’re poked and prodded, and they miss out on Mom’s cooking, going to school and parties, and just living life. We’re helping out by hosting a collection drive on [days of drive]. Just drop off [items you need] in the boxes found in [location #1] and [location #2]. Let’s show these kids we care!”

12 assemble the kits. If you’re making individual kits, make

sure you distribute the goodies evenly (don’t give one kid three packs of cards and zero books). Add a little note of encouragement or maybe some artwork to help bring a smile to their face.

13 Contact the hospital. Tell them you have donations to drop

off and set up a time to hand them over. Make sure you have a ride if you need one!

Drop-off day:

Who’s going to take me?:

10 Show off the goods. Set a goal and update the sign every

day with the amount of donations collected and the amount still to go.

* Ask if you can put the poster in the school office or in a place where everyone passes like the lunchroom or by the main doors.

* Have teachers write the goal on their chalkboards.

My goal:

11 Close down. Officially end the drive by placing the poster

with the final amount of donations collected.

It could sound someth ing l i ke th is :

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