FAQs

In Pediatrics, the conditions are varied. Because TLB most often has dealt with conditions that involve blood and marrow donation, we typically work with families in these areas: burns, surgery, cancer, inherited marrow failure/anemia, transplants (solid organ & marrow), injury or trauma, and premature babies. These children can be in-patient, at home, and/or hospice.

TLB is notified via the hospital pediatric staff, school personnel, a board member, or someone close to the family who can help bridge TLB to pediatric services. They will then assist in putting together the bigger picture of what needs to happen for each situation and the family. This used to be routinely done as part of a Care Management plan. Today, a lot of details are left up to the family and their primary care provider to discuss, but the actions of how to implement the processes are not personalized for each family. Therefore, the criteria include a diagnosis that a child (ages 0-21+) has a health situation (typically rare, urgent, or acute) that will lead to long-term or hospice care.

Most families, upon diagnosis of a challenging pediatric situation, are in shock. They are typically thrown into a medical world that they must learn to navigate immediately, and often cling to the team that handed them the diagnosis and next steps. It is through this process that TLB supports the caregiver and donates toys to the child. The families are often not ready to tell the public what they are dealing with, and thus toy collections are the easiest way that TLB has learned to embrace the child, medical staff, and family until the situation is made more public.

Businesses and corporate organizations may always participate since they are often impacted. One parent leaving the workplace to care for the child leads to a loss of talent, but an employee can no longer remain in a job unless the business world creates places and spaces for fragile children's primary caregivers.
Helping employees address their personal caregiving obligations is an approach employers almost entirely overlook as a mechanism for maximizing employee productivity and minimizing turnover. For every dollar an employer invests in caregiver support the employer reaps a return of up to $4.45. (Fuller & Raman, 2019)

· 1/3 of all employees (32%) reported voluntarily leaving a job during their career because of their caregiving responsibilities.
· 3 out of 4 (73%) report having some kind of current care giving responsibility
· Senior level leaders, product managers and tech employees are leaving prestigious jobs because of caretaking demands
· Younger employees: ages 26-35 report they’ve already left a job due to their caregiving responsibilities.

Fuller, J., & Raman, M. (2019). How employers can help employees manage their caregiving responsibilities-while reducing costs and increasing productivity. https://www.hbs.edu/managing-the-future-of-work/Documents/The_Caring_Company.pdf

Yes, we have a subscription format.

We ask the family what they want donors to know. We discuss HIPAA with our board members – TLB volunteers are trained to not discuss these situations. If necessary, we sign agreements.

Yes, depending on what the donor wants, and how they choose to be acknowledged.

Yes. In the past, most donations were for toys. Presently, most donations can be designated toward a particular campaign or for TLB’s needs/undesignated donations.

1. New and clean 
2. Unused
3. Wrapped in the container that the manufacturer has put around the toy
4. Stuffed animals that the eyes, tail, etc cannot be bitten off of
5. Infant toys are always needed
6. Toys that light up, spin, and distract are great toys for pre-surgery situations
7. Clay, sticker books, coloring activity books, markers, crayons, or paint-with-water books
8. Little people villages, hot wheel cars, baby dolls, tea sets
9. Board games, cards, puzzles 
10. Teen items are needed too
11. Toys that a child can enjoy while they are in a chair for the day or they have to stay in bed are the best items for hospital toy donations.