Stop and Shop stores are major donation sites for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation’s annual toy drive this year, and a truckload of toys was dropped off Thursday at a warehouse in West Hartford.
Rob Simmelkjaer, president of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation Board of Directors. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton
The Connecticut Lottery Corporation wants people to buy lottery tickets – but not as gifts for kids.
“Lottery tickets are not good presents for children. Toys are good presents for children,” Rob Simmelkjaer, chair of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation’s Board of Directors said Thursday as officials, including Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz gathered in West Hartford to help unload a truck full of toys for patients at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. The event was part of the Connecticut Lottery’s 8th Annual “Give a Child a Toy, Not a Ticket” toy drive, which this year is being supported by a partnership with Stop and Shop stores throughout the state.
Some of the 6,000 donated toys dropped off by Stop and Shop for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation’s toy drive to support Connecticut Chidlren’s Medical Center. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The toy drive focuses people’s attention on getting toys into the hands of children in need. More than 125 locations throughout the state, including 89 Stop and Shop stores, are serving as drop-off points for toys. The toy drive runs through Dec. 21, and unwrapped toys and games can be dropped in designated collection bins. Coloring and activity books, card games, fleece blankets, superhero action figures, and stuffed animals are among the most-needed items.
“I think one of the best ways to get into the spirit is to go shopping with your kids, for toys,” Simmelkjaer said. Choosing toys for others is a great way to bring home the spirit of giving.
Rudy DiPietro, VP of merchandising for Stop and Shop. Photo credit; Ronni Newton
Rudy DiPietro, vice president for Merchandising with Stop and Shop, said giving back to Connecticut Children’s has personal meaning to his family. His son was born in the summer of 2020, and spent three months in the NICU at Connecticut Children’s. “We were so blessed,” he said. “That’s truly a service that this organization provides to the state.”
More than 6,000 toys already collected at Stop and Shop this holiday season were dropped off Thursday, “and we still have time,” DiPietro said.
“We hope that these toys lessen the burden on the families of the children that are staying currently. We know holidays can be a stressful time,” he said.
West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor drops off bags of toys inside the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center warehouse. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor is president of the Connecticut Children’s Foundation Board, and support of the hospital is also very near and dear to her heart – and her son’s heart. Her youngest son, now in his 20s, was born with a congenital heart defect and has been a longtime patient at Connecticut Children’s.
“It is a magical place, and it is a place we all need so desperately. And you don’t know sometimes how much you need it until you’re there.” Cantor said she is so grateful to bring everyone together for the holidays, for the generosity of Connecticut Lottery, and to be able to support patients and their families at Connecticut Children’s.
Jim Schmerling, President and CEO of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
“Thousands, literally thousands of children will be the recipient of all these toys,” Jim Schmerling, president and CEO of Connecticut Children’s said, expressing his thanks to all.
About 140 children are in the hospital now, and many more from throughout the state and the region will be coming through the emergency department. “They don’t come to Children’s because they want to, even though there are great physicians and nurses [who provide] amazing care, compassionate care. … They’re there because they’re ill, they need help.”
While the medicine and technology can get them well, “there is nothing more powerful in the medicine kit than toys,” Schmerling said. “It’s the only thing that will put a smile on a child’s face when they’re in the hospital. It’s more than just a gift, it’s part of the therapy that we provide kids when they’re in the hospital and we are truly, truly grateful.”
Bysiewicz said thinking about the patients at Connecticut Children’s now, with additional challenges the pandemic has created, “This is really, really important for those kids who may be stuck in the hospital throughout the holidays.”
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz thanked the “elves” from Stop and Shop for dropping off donated toys Thursday. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Noting that Santa planned an appearance at the drop-off, Bysiewicz thanked “the elves” from Stop and Shop and the Connecticut Lottery for “doing this important work to put smiles on kids’ faces, to help them get through their time in the hospital. I can see how the panda, or some of these toys could distract kids if they are getting a needle … a test, all those things that are uncomfortable or difficult.”
Lamont also thanked the Stop and Shop elves. “There’s a lot of medical support you can need but there’s nothing like a little bit of love, maybe a panda bear … maybe a Monster Jam truck.”
Lamont thanked Connecticut Children’s for stepping up for the kids, every day. “Make them smile, make them believe that next year’s going to be a very different place and they’ve got a lot to live for, and that’s what it means, and that’s what Santa means when you make a dream.”
Gov. Ned Lamont expressed his gratitude for the donation of toys that will put smiles on children’s faces during a tough time of year to be hospitalized. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The toys dropped off Thursday helped stock the Connecticut Children’s warehouse on South Street in West Hartford. The hospital uses toys and games as distraction for patients prior to shots, tests, surgery, and other procedures, or when they are celebrating a birthday or other special event while a patient. The toys are also used in multiple playrooms through the facilities.
Connecticut Children’s yearly need for donated toys exceeds 80,000, the organization said, ranging from small items like decks of cards or matchbox cars to large items like tablets and video games. A wish list of “Top Needed Toys” can be found on their website.
Representatives from Stop and Shop, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, and Mayor Shari Cantor outside a warehouse in West Hartford where thousands of donated toys were dropped off Thursday. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Some of the 6,000 donated toys dropped off by Stop and Shop for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation’s toy drive to support Connecticut Chidlren’s Medical Center. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Some of the 6,000 donated toys dropped off by Stop and Shop for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation’s toy drive to support Connecticut Chidlren’s Medical Center. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz with Santa. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
More than 6,000 toys have been donated already by Stop & Shop as part of the CT Lottery’s annual toy drive for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. At a drop-off in West Hartford Thursday (from left) are Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Santa, Gov. Ned Lamont, CT Lottery Board Chair Rob Simmelkjaer, Stop & Shop VP of Merchandising Rudy DiPietro, West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, and Connecticut Children’s President and CEO Jim Schmerling. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Connecticut Children’s uses more than 80,000 toys per year, and stores them in a warehouse in West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Connecticut Children’s uses more than 80,000 toys per year, and stores them in a warehouse in West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Connecticut Children’s uses more than 80,000 toys per year, and stores them in a warehouse in West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
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