Angels of Gold

Angels of Gold is collecting toys for the Toy/Reward closet used by the Hematology / Oncology (Hem/Onc Clinic), and 3-Gold (in-house) units at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH).

Hospital policy dictates that all toys must be new, in original packaging, and not gift-wrapped. ACH also will not accept toy guns, knives, or toys that would promote violence. The Hem/Onc Clinic and 3-Gold unit treat children from babies to age 22 for cancer. Any donations would be greatly appreciated.

Children receiving treatment for cancer at ACH receive a sticker chart. Each time a child endures a needle stick in clinic he/she receives a sticker. When a row is full on the chart the child gets to go shopping in the toy closet.
Toys are also given to children after tough procedures, during extended hospital stays (a month or more), and during Last Treatment and Birthday parties. These toys are donations from groups and individuals across the state.

Angels of Gold is a non-profit organization, based in Russellville, Conway, and the surrounding areas. Our goal is to help brighten the lives of children being treated for cancer at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Please join in our efforts to bring a smile to the face of a child with cancer.

Each Spring and Fall Angels of Gold has Toy Drives. Cash donations are accepted and used to buy toys or needed items requested by the Hem/Onc Clinic or 3-Gold Unit at ACH. All toys collected will be taken to ACH at the end of each drive. Toys collected outside the toy drive time-frames will either be taken to ACH in between visits or stored until the next toy drive.

We welcome participation and donations from individuals and groups. If you would like to make a donation, or wish to know more about Angels of Gold please contact Kim Newman at (479) 964-3244 (days), (479) 641-1290 (nights & weekends), or by email at kim.newman@atu.edu ; or Lisa Rolins at (501) 764-1288, (501) 336-4479 (cell), or by email at LROLINS@arvest.com .

Babies: Soft baby dolls, Bottles,Pacifiers, Teethers, Blankets, Rattles, Soft Toys, Chunky Books, etc.

Toddler/Pre-School: Baby Dolls, Push Toys, Wooden blocks, Ride-on Toys, Stickers/Sticker Books, Big Cars &

Trucks, Coloring Books, Mega Blocks, Waffle Blocks, Floor Puzzles, Sorting/Stacking toys, etc.

Little Girls: Baby Dolls / Paper Dolls, Barbies(all races), Fake tattoos(flowers, etc.), Diaries, Lisa Frank stuff, Dress-up stuff, Jump Ropes, Jax, Princess Stuff, Hula Hoops, Purses, etc.

Little Boys: Army men( no guns), Hot Wheels, MatchBox cars, Mega blocks, Bugs, Tops, Yoyos, Transformers, Tonka Trucks/Tractors, Marbles, etc.

Young-Either Gender: Lincoln Logs, Legos, Plastic Animals, Rescue Heroes, Stickers/Sticker books, Farm stuff, Books to Read, Erector Sets, Tinker Toys, Doctor/Nurse Stuff, Golf/Bowling Toys, etc.

Teen & up Girls: Makeup, Jewelry, Nail Polish, Lotions/bath stuff, Body Glitter, Perfume, Hair accessories, Diaries/Journals, Fake tatoos(flowers, etc.), Fancy Pens / Stationery, Purses, Scarves, Hats, etc.

Teen & up Boys: Model cars/planes, Sports cards, Nascar Stuff, Wrestling Stuff, Sports Equipment, Fishing Stuff, Hunting Stuff, Shaving Stuff, Cologne, etc.

Teen & up -Either Gender: Do Rags, CD holders, Gift Cards for food or CD's, Wallets, Car Accessories, Room Accessories, Collectable Items, etc.

All Ages: Art Stuff(foam, paints,etc), Modeling Clay, Temporary Tatoos, Pencils/Paper, Play Dough, Craft Kits, Puzzles, 3-D Puzzles, Erector Sets, Scrapbook Kits, Books(movie/cartoons characters), Beanie Babies, Stationer, Slippers (characters), Toe Socks, Books to Read, Pajamas, Puzzle books, Movies (DVD's/VHS), Ball Caps, Soft Stuffed Animals, Crayons/Coloring books, Hats, Colored Markers, Water Colors, Scarves, Charcoals/Pastels, Sticker Books, Gloves, Paint/Color by Numbers, Fuzzy Posters to Color, Bubbles, Portable CD/Radio players, Movie Posters, Cartoon Characters, Music tapes or CDs, etc.

The hospital now has combination DVD/VCRs in all the rooms. So DVDs would be great! Please check that all movies and music are age appropriate. Stephanie Messick, who is in charge of Child Life on 3-Gold, has also requested “kits” for bed-side visits. These are for children on the unit that can not go to the regular playroom. Craft kits may be purchased from WalMart, Hobby Lobby, the Dollar Store, Kmart, and other local stores.

Kim Newman at 964-3244 (days), 641-1290 (nights), or by email at kim.newman@atu.edu ; or

	Angels of Gold is a group of residents from the Arkansas River Valley area, and other areas around the state of Arkansas. Our goal is to help brighten the lives of children being treated for cancer at Arkansas Children's Hospital. At present, we perform two (2) services to help the children. We have toy drives throughout the year in various areas of the state. Each drive is hosted by one or more co-founders. We also sponsor one or more families during the Christmas Holiday who have a child with cancer. We presently have five (5) co-founders.

	Toys collected during each drive are taken to the Oncology/Hematology Clinic at ACH, and placed in the "Toy/Reward Closet" - a closet specially designed with shelves just for this purpose. Every child diagnosed with cancer is given a sticker chart made from a folder by an oncology nurse in the clinic. For every needle stick a child must endure in the clinic, they may pick a sticker to go on their chart. When a row is full on the chart, the child gets to go "shopping" in the toy closet. A toy may also be given to a child who is having a hard time dealing with a big procedure, like a spinal tap. The closet is furnished by volunteer donations of toys, books, movies, games, jewelry, clothes, hats, scarves, do-rags, room decorations, car decorations, or anything else a child or young adult might want. (The "children" being treated in this clinic/unit range in age from tiny babies to young adults in their early twenties.)

	In November Angels of Gold receive information about a family with a child being treated by the ACH Oncology Unit in need of help through the holidays. The information comes from the Social Workers, currently Carrie Calhoun and Kristy Davis, assigned to the Oncology Unit. The information usually includes genders and ages of the family members. Each child is allowed to submit a "wish list" for gifts. We are sometimes provided with clothing and shoe sizes for everyone in the family. Many times we will receive information about other basic needs of the family as well. The parents are also asked to submit a grocery list for their traditional Christmas dinner, are we provide that too.

	We attempt to provide the whole family with a happy Christmas. At the very least this will include a toy/gift for each child and food items for Christmas dinner for the family. We prefer to also include clothing and, if possible, shoes for the children. We try to provide coats if we know they are needed. We like to prepare "goodie bags" for the children with fruit and candy in them. We also include anything else we find that is age appropriate for the children and within our budget at the time. Healthy snacks and a fruit basket are also provided if funds are available. We like to include a small gift for each parent, like a basket of self-pampering items for the Mom. Sometimes we may provide clothing for the parents too.

	As parents of children who were treated by ACH Oncology/Hematology Clinic and 3-Gold (in-house) units, our co-founders can not express to you how important the "rewards" from the toy closet become to these children. Because of the financial stress of living with a child with cancer, Christmas may become just a dream to the families of these children. The members of Angels of Gold are all people trying to do God's will in helping others. We invite you to help in this effort to bring a smile to the face of a child with cancer.