Stories from Parents

We have had some wonderful experiences since we have started the toy drive. I am going to start documenting some of my favorites.

We were in Walmart one day and Hayden was buying toys for the toy drive with money that Grandma Star had given him. The check out lady told Hayden he was one lucky little boy to get so many toys. Hayden spoke up and said, "These aren't for me. These are for the sick kids at the hospital". The lady behind us in line explained that her daughter was in PCH and had received some toys after her operation. It was very comforting to her daughter to receive a new toy after coming out of surgery. She had tears as she hugged Hayden and told him thank you from all the parents of kids in the hospital.

We had a lady that read about Hayden's Toy Drive in the paper and her daughter had just passed away. She brought over armfuls of dolls and stuffed animals to donate to the toy drive. She sat and talked about how her daughter had received all kinds of toys and stuffed animals while in the hospital and how comforting it was to her to sleep with a stuffed toys after having surgeries.

A man called and asked how his children could help out with the toy drive. They decided to do good deeds for neighbors and in lieu of being paid for their efforts, they requested the neighbors donate a toy to Hayden's Toy Drive. They collected toys and brought them over. They added each toy carefully to the pile and told what chores and good deeds they had done to earn each item.

Hayden and Brooklyn had a garage sale to raise money for Hayden's Toy Drive. With the money collected, they were able to go to the store and pick out toys for the children at the hospital. I was amazed as I watched them carefully select toys that were best suited for children laying in bed. I was so impressed as neither asked for things for themselves but selected great things for the sick children. I was so impressed, especially at ages 3 and 5 years old.

My all time favorite was when PCH volunteers asked Hayden last year if he knew he was doing a good thing by collecting toys for the hospital. His reply with sweet, simple and to the point. "Yea, I know... Heavenly Father whispers to my heart that I am doing a good thing". That says it all. We've been so blessed by the toy drive and all the wonderful people we have met through it.