Miss Cook County Pre-Teen leads toy drive effort
Miss Cook County Outstanding Pre-Teen 2011 Arielle Christopher, 12, delivered more than 125 toys to the St. Alexius Intensive Care Pediatric Unit at St. Alexius Medical Center, 1555 N. Barrington Road, Hoffman Estates, Tuesday, Nov. 22.
Miss Cook County Outstanding Pre-Teen partnered with Family Video of Schaumburg to bring the joy of Christmas early to the young inpatients at St. Alexius Medical Center. Christopher hosted the Happy Holidays Toy Drive for two weeks at the local Family Video store, where customers dropped off new, unwrapped toy donations.#147;I was so delighted to see Arielle and her parents with a large cart of toys,#148; said Katie Hammerberg, coordinator of Child Life Services. #147;Toys help children adjust to the hospital environment because play is a normal part of child development that should continue even when a child is in the hospital.#148;
Christopher and Hammerberg unloaded a cart of toys as co-workers watched boxes of Mega Bloks cars and a Mr. Potato Head toy appear out of a large shopping bag.
#147;I thought the toy drive was great, but digging through this toy bag is even better,#148; said Christopher.
Christopher posed for photos and left behind many happy memories.
Family Video, headquartered in Glenview, is the second largest movie and game rental chain in the United States, and the largest privately-owned. Family Video has more than 700 stores in 19 states. Stores are open 365 days a year, most from 10 a.m. to midnight. For information, visit www.familyvideo.com.
St. Alexius Medical Center is a 339-bed community hospital in Hoffman Estates, ranked one of the best regional hospitals by U.S. News and World Report 2011. The St. Alexius Pediatric Unit provides specialized care for children by physicians, nurses and staff with expertise in pediatric medical care.
For information about St. Alexius Pediatric Unit, visit www.alexianbrothershealth.org/services/stalexius/ or contact Katie Hammerberg, coordinator of Child Life Services, at (847) 843-2000, ext. 6634.
Arielle Christopher is a representative of the Miss Cook County Scholarship Program. Christopher will travel in her year of service throughout Cook County to serve her community as a goodwill ambassador. Christopher#146;s platform is to support the needs of children from low-income families through community service.
For details about Miss Cook County Outstanding Pre-Teen 2011, visit www.misscookcounty.org or email misscookcopt1@yahoo.com.
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