Trinity Collegiate student holds Toy Drive
Gabriella Stamato stands with some of the many toys she collected for the drive. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Trinity Collegiate School’s rising senior, Gabriella Stamato, has always had a deep love for taking care of children and helping those in need. This passion inspired her to start a toy drive for McLeod Children’s Hospital, an institution that cares for more than 56,000 children annually. The toys collected would provide essential entertainment and distraction, helping the young patients cope with their illnesses and the challenges of being hospitalized.
Gabriella’s idea for the toy drive came from her realization of the needs throughout her local children’s hospital while volunteering there last year. Understanding the profound impact that toys can have on a child’s hospital experience, she was determined to make a difference. Her commitment to the cause quickly gathered support from her community, including her school and several other local institutions like, All Saints Episcopal Day School and their Young Ambassadors, The McLeod Foundation, HAKABOHU- The Toy Shop Florence, The Montessori School of Florence, and RE/MAX Professionals.
Over the course of three weeks, the toy drive impressively collected over 1,700 toys and raised an additional $1,000 for McLeod Children’s Hospital. The monetary donations will be used for purchasing medical teaching toys that will be placed in the hospital’s playroom, providing an educational and interactive experience for the children.
Gabriella personally collected and counted all the toys before delivering them to the hospital. To make the delivery even more special, she coordinated her visit with an event that the McLeod Health Foundation had organized, which featured multiple superheroes visiting the children. Setting up a table filled with superhero toys, Gabriella distributed them to the hospitalized kids, bringing smiles and joy to their faces.
Gabriella is extremely thankful for everyone’s help throughout the month the drive took place. The overwhelming support from the community and the collaborative effort of various organizations truly made this project a great success.
