Donating toys and other items
Shriners Hospitals for Children — Springfield appreciates receiving donations from the community to benefit our patients. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept all donations. See our lists of acceptable and unacceptable items below.
Donations we can accept
The items below are frequently used and distributed by our child life staff to patients undergoing medical procedures and in recognition of special events.
All items must be new, unopened and latex-free. We can accept:
- Stuffed animals (no removable or choking-hazard eyes or buttons)
- Movies/DVDs (rated G, PG, or PG-13)
- Headphones
- Handheld video games/electronic games
- Video game cartridges or discs for video game systems (Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, or Game Cube; must be rated e or e10+)
- Craft items, art supplies, journals, sketch pads
- Paint sets, markers, stickers, fuzzy posters, bead kits
- Hair and nail kits
- Sharpie/permanent markers for cast decorating
- Board games, card games, LEGO kits
- Dolls (various ethnicities)
- Toy cars (remote control, matchbox)
- Rattles, toys with push-buttons/lights/music, blocks, glow worms
- Teen magazines
- Sports related items (NY and MA teams)
- Mylar balloons (un-inflated) Happy Birthday, Feliz Cumpleaños, Thank You, Congrats, Get Well
Other acceptable donations:
- Aluminum can tabs
- Manual wheelchairs, walkers and crutches in good condition
Donations we are unable to accept
Due to the hospital’s infection control policy and for the safety and well-being of our patients, we cannot accept the following items:
- Used books, toys, games, stuffed animals
- Any toy, game, craft or sports item containing latex, rubber or flexible foam which can cause an allergic reaction in some patients
- Loose glitter or sand
- Used electronics, VHS tapes, audio cassette tapes
- Anything pertaining to weapons, gore or violence
- Power wheelchairs and other used healthcare equipment (with the exception of manual wheelchairs, walkers and crutches in good condition)
- Used clothing, shoes, greeting cards, papers, tea bag tags
- Items that can be recycled at home, such as soda cans, food cans, scrap metal, aluminum foil, etc.
We appreciate your understanding of these restrictions and have compiled a list of alternative donation sites for items we are unable to accept. The following organizations accept used clothing, books, art supplies and toys in good condition:
Gray House – 22 Sheldon Street, Springfield, MA
413-734-6696 www.grayhouse.org
Springfield Boys and Girls Club – 481 Carew Street, Springfield, MA (No clothing)
413-732-7201 www.sbgc.org
Salvation Army – 285 Liberty Street, Springfield, MA
413-785-1921 www.salvationarmyusa.org
The following organizations accept used stuffed animals and blankets (no pillows):
Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society – 171 Union Street, Springfield, MA
413-781-4000 www.dpvhs.org
Thomas J O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center – 627 Cottage Street, Springfield, MA
413-781-1484 www.tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com
The following organization accepts gently used medical equipment:
The New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Center at Oak Hill - 120 Holcomb Street, Hartford, CT
860-243-2869 or toll free: 866-526-4492 www.neatmarketplace.org
Thank you for thinking of Shriners Hospitals for Children — Springfield. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact public relations at 413-735-1291 or our child life department at 413-735-1251.