Community Blood Centers Hosting Toy Drive For Pediatric Patients at Area Hospitals.

LAUDERHILL, Fla. -- Community Blood Centers of South Florida (CBCSF) is reaching out to the community to help give pediatric patients in local hospitals a joyous holiday this year. The blood center's first annual "Toys of Joy" Toy Drive runs through December 16, and local residents can drop off new, unopened, unwrapped toys for boys and girls at all fifteen CBCSF branches in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

The toys will be delivered to patients at 5 area hospitals: Baptist Children's Hospital and Miami Children's Hospital in Dade County, Broward General Medical Center's Chris Everett Children's Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Broward, and St. Mary's Hospital in Palm Beach.

"Parents of cancer and transplant patients have told us how difficult the holidays can be," says Tracy Amara, CBCSF Director of Branch Operations. "Between hospital stays, doctor visits, transfusions and other related commitments plus going to work and caring for other family members, it's no wonder the holidays become a challenge for these 'super parents'." She adds, "Many families have also been affected financially. Caring for a child with cancer or in need of a transplant often means giving up a full-time job on top of major medical bills. For some, that can mean the difference between gifts or no gifts at the holidays."

According to Amara, nearly 500 people contributed to CBCSF's food drive last month. She comments, "South Florida is a very giving community, as evidenced every day by our voluntary blood donors. If we can match the number of people who gave to our food drive and each person gives just one gift, we would be able to bring joy to 500 children battling serious illnesses this holiday season."

The toy drive will also help to expose more people to CBCSF and blood donation. Of the 60% of the population who can donate blood, only about 5% actually do so, yet the need for blood is constant. The best way to ensure an adequate daily blood supply for local hospitals is for more people to donate, and for current donors to donate as often as they are eligible to do so. Amara refers to the Toys of Joy theme: "If a toy can bring such simple joy to a child battling cancer or awaiting a transplant, just imagine what your life-giving blood donations can do."

Community Blood Centers of South Florida, Inc., a non-profit organization, is the supplier of 75% of the blood used for medical care in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. CBCSF has 40 blood mobiles serving Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys, seven days a week, and 16 branches located from Key West to Lantana. To schedule a blood drive or learn more about blood donation, call 800-357-4483 or visit www.cbcsf.org.