Holiday Store Makes Shopping Easier for Patients' Families

Madison, Wisconsin - Families with loved ones at American Family Children's Hospital over the long holiday weekend won't have to go far to do their gift shopping.

The second annual Holiday Store will be open to families of inpatients on Friday, December 21 from noon until 6 p.m. in the children's hospital lobby.

The store, organized by Child Life staff and volunteers at American Family Children’s Hospital, will be stocked with age- and developmentally appropriate gifts for kids from infants to 18 years old.

Parents who visit the store will be able to choose among hundreds of gifts including books, board games, video games, dolls, musical toys, gift cards and arts and craft kits. Last year, nearly 1,000 gifts were chosen for 75 patients hospitalized over the holidays.

The Child Life staff decided to change up the holiday gift distribution last year.

"In the past, the staff would put together holiday bags of donated items and Santa would distribute them to patients on Christmas Eve," said Julie Auenson, child life services manager at American Family Children’s Hospital. "Last year, we decided that parents should be able to choose gifts because they know their children best."

The gifts come from donations from individuals, groups and businesses made in December and throughout the year.