Your Donation Helps Children

When you give to Connecticut Children’s, you invest in better, healthier futures for children. Donations from individuals and organizations allow Connecticut Children’s to deliver the specialized care kids need and deserve. Visit our Foundation website to learn more or to give immediately.

To donate toys, games or supplies, check out the ways listed below or you can make an online, tax-deductible monetary donation to support Child Life in providing patients with engaging bedside activities, distraction, entertainment and year-round programming. Select “Child and Family Support Services” under the question “What would you like your donation to support?” and write “toy donation” in the comment section.
 

Other Ways to Donate

Visit our online wishlist. All purchased items will be delivered to our warehouse and brought back to the medical center for our patients.

Help raise much-needed funds to allow the Child Life team to purchase appropriate and meaningful toys and items for patients, based on their age and developmental needs. Get started at give.connecticutchildrens.org/toydrive and receive an online fundraising page, fundraising guidance, and more. All funds raised will directly benefit our patients and families all year long!

Donations from our approved list (see below) are accepted at our warehouse location on Wednesday mornings by appointment only. For the safety of patients and donors, no in-person donations or drop-offs are allowed at the main hospital at any time. Please contact our team at toys [at] connecticutchildrens.org to arrange a drop-off appointment.

All items must be brand new, unwrapped, latex-free and compliant with our safety and infection control guidelines. We are unable to accept handmade cards, knitted/crocheted infant items, used items or toys with weapons or of a violent nature. If items do not fall within our guidelines or are unsafe/inappropriate for our patients, we reserve the right to politely decline donations.

  • Bubbles
  • Fleece Blankets
  • Stuffed Animals
  • Card/Board Games (Uno, Monopoly Deal, Sushi Go, Connect 4, Candy Land, Jenga, Sorry, Trouble etc.)
  • Arts & Crafts/STEM kits (small kits)
  • Playdoh (multi-packs and kits)
  • Barbies, Superhero Action Figures
  • Infant and Toddler toys (Fisher Price, Sassy, Bright Starts, Nubby, Infantino, Baby Einstein)
  • Animal/Character Figurines (dinosaurs, farm animals, etc.)
  • LEGO sets (small sets)
  • Coloring books & crayons/markers/colored pencils (including teen coloring books), Sticker By Numbers
  • Matchbox Cars

Following the American Academy of Pediatrics Safe Sleep Guidelines, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can no longer accept baby hats or loose baby blankets. Sleep sacks are the best choice for swaddling babies and maintaining warmth.

December 2023

We will be hosting a holiday toy drop-off event in December 2023 at our warehouse in West Hartford. We are unable to accept any additional in-person holiday toy donations outside of this time period. No in-person donations or drop-offs are allowed at the hospital at 282 Washington Street at any time. In order to participate you must pre-register for a drop-off time and donate new and unwrapped items from the Approved List of Donations below. Please contact our team at toys [at] connecticutchildrens.org (toys[at]connecticutchildrens[dot]org) before moving forward with any planning for holiday or other toy drives.

Following the American Academy of Pediatrics Safe Sleep Guidelines, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit can accept the following items:

  • Boppy covers
  • Sleep sacks
  • Scent cloths
  • Books
  • Mirrors that attach to a crib
  • Mobiles

Please note: We no longer accept hats or loose blankets as there has been a national increase in the number of accidental infant suffocations. Sleep sacks are the best choice for swaddling babies and maintaining warmth.