An unexpected allergic reaction on Christmas night 2009 resulted in a stop at a Long Island Hospital for then 4-year-old Emily Meyer.
The next morning, staff at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, gave the child a bag 1with board games and dolls." It 2 my mind off being sick and I'm sure it gave some 3to my parents. They were able to see my smile."
The unexpected4motivated Emily to launch "Emily's Awesome Toy Drive" in 2010 with the help of her grandfather. Since then, her efforts have produced countless 5on the faces of sick children at Long Island hospitals.
Emily's operation started from 6a few dozen donated gifts and delivering them to Good Samaritan Hospital over the holidays. Now it has grown into a better-planned attempt that includes a Facebook page, an Instagram account and a(n) 7to many Long Island hospitals and charitable organizations.
8Good Samaritan, Emily's Awesome Toy Drive is also cooperating with Cohen Children's Medical Center, Stony Brook University Hospital and so on. The school system has also 9 donation boxes at some schools.
Since age 5, Emily has helped 10thousands of donated gifts to hospitalized children. 11the donated gifts, they are given to the children on holidays, graduations, or as 12 when patients are experiencing difficult treatments.
Children who are dealing with 13 circumstances, such as a death in the family, are given donated stuffed animals so they "have something to hug and14."
"I enjoy this," she said." It's important for me to bring joy to the kids who 15it the most."
