The holiday spirit arrived early at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach as the 23rd Annual Toy Jam, hosted by Timmons of Long Beach, delivered carloads of toys to the hospital at the end of October. Child Life Specialists from the Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program received the generous donations, which help sustain the toy supply for kids leading into the holiday season.
Timmons of Long Beach promotes the Toy Jam to customers year-round, offering customers at their service department a 10% discount for gifting a new toy to a patient. Donations come from both customers and employees and play a significant role in the holiday activities planned by the Child Life Program at Miller Children’s & Women’s. These activities include providing developmentally appropriate toys and games and gifts for pediatric patients celebrating special days, like birthdays, while in the hospital, helping them cope with hospitalization and illness.
“These donations always come in October, and we are so grateful as they help us through a slow period of donations before the holiday season approaches in November and December,” says Rita Goshert, director, Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program, Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach. “It makes such a difference to the patients and their families to receive these donations – it helps brighten their days and allows them to forget about their hospitalization, even if just for a little while.”
For the last several years, Samantha Timmons, wife of owner Greg Timmons, has personally helped with the donation process.
“This is truly one of the best things that we can do for the community,” says Samantha Timmons. “My kids and grandkids were born here at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach, and our family has had a number of surgeries at Long Beach Medical Center, so this opportunity to donate and give back to our community is one of our top priorities every year.”
The Child Life Program accepts donated toys that are appropriate for infant through adolescent patients. Child Life Specialists use medical play and distraction techniques to help children adjust to their hospital stay and promote the continuity of normal, daily childhood activities. These large toy donations guarantee that children of all ages have access to toys that help brighten their hospital experience and provide moments of joy during challenging times.
“Toy Jam is not just an event – it is a commitment to our community,” says Greg Timmons. “It’s incredible to witness the generosity of our customers and employees, and knowing these toys bring comfort to children at Miller Children’s makes it all worthwhile.”
