Ways to Give: 2014 Heart in Hand Holiday Campaign

Each year it seems that the pressure of the holidays creeps up on us earlier and earlier. Shelves in local retailers are decked out with Christmas stockings, seasonal candy and décor even before we have a chance to choose our Halloween costumes. Letters to Santa are drafted with plenty of room for additions even as the school year has just begun, and families begin planning for the best Black Friday deals before relatives are invited to Thanksgiving.

During this time of year it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season and forget to take time to be thankful for those things that matter most. From family, friends, homes, and health to the warm cup of coffee you’re holding, or the iPhone that helps you stay connected – take a moment to pause and be grateful.

The hard truth is that while some families find themselves snoozing on the sofa in a turkey food coma, thousands of others find themselves spending their holidays in a hospital.

Thankfully, we know that the spirit of the holiday season is alive and well because we receive hundreds of inquiries each year asking one common question – How can I help your children and families?

This year, in partnership with our friends at Arch Creative, we’re launching the Heart in Hand holiday campaign. Our goal is to create a special holiday season for those families spending their holidays with us, and we challenge you to get involved!

How to Give

1. Donate. We understand that money can be tight around the holidays, but whether you donate $5 or $5,000, your gift has a big impact on our children and their families. Money collected this holiday season will go toward our Annual Fund, which in turn is used to fund the areas of greatest need around the hospital – from renovations that allow us to expand our programs and serve more children in need, to technology that allows us to better care for our patients, and more. Your gift matters.

2. Give a Toy. Each year we publish a Holiday Wish List, identifying toys on our kids’ wish lists this year. Pick up an extra board game while you’re shopping on Black Friday, or ask your friends to bring a toy with them to your annual Cookie Swap or Holiday Party. From clothes, to books, to movies and dolls, each gift is a big smile for the kids and families who spend their holidays with us. You can even shop from our Amazon Wish List and ship your gift directly to the hospital so we can make sure it gets into the right set of little hands. If you prefer to deliver your gift in person, you can either arrange a drop-off time (contact cbrandimarte@fhfc.org) or leave your new, unwrapped gift along with one of these completed Holiday Gift Tags at either of the hospital reception areas at your convenience.

3.  Let us benefit from your Amazon shopping.  You’re shopping online anyways; why not make your purchase through our shopping portal and earn the hospital a 4% referral from Amazon?  There are no additional fees or shipping costs to you, it’s an easy win-win, just be sure to start your shopping using this link.

4. Spread the Word. We’ll be sharing plenty of photos, stories and other content on our social media accounts throughout the next several weeks to celebrate the season, spread the word about our mission, and to say Thank You to our followers, donors and friends. Like what you see? Please share and encourage others to check out what Franciscan Hospital for Children is all about and how they can get involved.

Our donors have an invaluable impact on our mission and in the lives of the children and families that we serve. Please join us this year in our Heart in Hand holiday campaign, and generously give the gift of happy holidays to those who could use a helping hand!