Gabriella Stamato Launches Captivating Toy Drive for McLeod Children’s Hospital
FLORENCE, S.C. – In a passionate effort to provide happiness and relief to sick children, rising senior Gabriella Stamato from Trinity Collegiate School has launched a dedicated toy drive for the McLeod Children’s Hospital. This renown medical institution provides crucial care for over 56,000 chronically-ill children every year. Stamato’s efforts towards the collection drive have added a beam of positivity, with the collected toys bringing vital entertainment, distraction, and emotional support to young patients amid their challenging hospitalization period.
Why a Toy Drive?
The idea for the toy drive was conceived in the compassionate heart of Stamato during her voluntary service at the local children’s hospital last year. She learned first-hand about the deep need for essential items within the hospital. Acknowledging the transformative influence toys can wield on a child’s hospital experience, she was resolved to make a viable difference.
The noteworthy commitment and sincerity towards the cause by Stamato quickly accrued support from several local institutions. This includes All Saints Episcopal Day School and their Young Ambassadors, The McLeod Foundation, The Montessori School of Florence, HAKABOHU – The Toy Shop Florence, and RE/MAX Professionals. In addition to these, her school, the Trinity Collegiate, also contributed a significant amount of resources to the cause.
The Successful Outcome
Throughout three weeks of diligent effort towards the toy drive, more than 1,700 toys were collected, and an impressive sum of $1,000 was raised for McLeod Children’s Hospital. The considerable monetary donations will facilitate the purchase of medical teaching toys to be placed in the hospital’s playroom, which are expected to provide an instructional and engaging experience for the young patients.
Stamato took charge of the entire initiative, from collection to the counting of toys, to their subsequent delivery at the hospital. She timed her delivery with a special event organized by the McLeod Health Foundation. Multiple superheroes visiting the children were the highlight of the event.
Adding a personal touch to the day’s activities, Stamato set up a stand filled with superhero toys and had the pleasure of personally presenting them to the young patients. The day was filled with joyous smiles and cheer as she distributed the toys, igniting an air of hope and positivity in the hospital.
Gabriella’s overwhelming contribution to McLeod Children’s Hospital serves as an inspiring testament of compassion, resilience and dedication. Her proactive initiative in recognizing and addressing the needs of the young patients sets a commendable example for her peers and community members to follow. As she embarks on her senior year, her selfless contribution will continue to bring joy and solace to many hospitalized children at McLeod.
