Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Hosting Holiday Toy and Clothing Drive for Adolescent Psych Patients
Items can be dropped off through Christmas Eve in the lobby of 2017 S. Jefferson St. weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
This holiday season, Carilion Child & Adolescent Psychiatry providers are asking for the public's help to collect needed toys and clothing for child and adolescent psychiatry and behavioral medicine patients.
"Kids in our unit hugely benefit from donated items," said Lisa Dishner, RN, senior director of Nursing for the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine. "In addition to using toys as rewards for positive reinforcement, many of the kids simply don't have access to needed clothing or comfort items that many think of as basics."
Typically, Carilion's Child & Adolescent Psychiatry unit treats around 500 kids per year. Patients are 9 years and older.
Right now, their game/clothing closet is depleted (pictured here). The goal of this drive is to ensure that children and teens admitted during the holidays and throughout the year have access to items that help them during their stay and beyond.
"Providing any of the items on our wishlist makes a huge difference for kids who can sometimes feel forgotten," said Dishner. "Please consider making a donation; I've seen firsthand the impact that it can make."
The unit is asking for the following items (new items are preferred, gently used are accepted):
- Board Games (ages 9 and up)
- UNO cards
- Playing cards
- Adult coloring books
- Books for reading (ages 9 and up)
- Nintendo DS consoles, games and chargers
- Wireless speakers
- Wireless radios
- Headphones (wireless preferred)
- Fidget toys
- Stress balls
- Wii games/controllers/console
- DVD movies (ages 9 and up)
- Underwear, socks, bras for male/female (ages 9 and up - teen and adult sizes needed most)
- Pants (ages 9 and up - teen and adult sizes needed most)
- Stocking caps and gloves for male/female (ages 9 and up - teen and adult sizes needed most)
Donations for this drive can be dropped off now through Dec. 24 on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the main lobby of the Carilion Clinic Rehab Building (2017 S. Jefferson Street). This facility is across the street from Roanoke Memorial Hospital at the corner of Jefferson Street and McClanahan. Parking can be found on McClanahan Street or in the Crystal Spring Parking Garage. Masks are required to come in the building.
If you'd like to make a tax-deductable gift to Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, you can visit The Carilion Clinic Foundation's website to learn more. To designate your donation, select "Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine" in the "Designation" drop-down menu.
If you have questions, reach out to Lisa Dishner at LMDishner@carilionclinic.org.