We’re so grateful for your generosity, passion and creativity! Because of you, Children’s Wisconsin is able to fulfill our mission of helping Wisconsin’s kids be the healthiest in the nation. Thank you for taking a moment to learn how you can make the most impactful gift to the kids we serve.
Toys are a popular donation item, especially around the holidays, but we’d like to let you know about other immediate needs that have a profound impact on our care.
Shop our wish lists
We consider every element of a hospital stay through the eyes of the kids and families we serve. When you purchase a new gift from our wish list, you enhance a child’s health care experience by providing comfort and therapeutic distraction to normalize the hospital environment. Likewise, treatment milestones, birthdays and holidays are made even more special with child-friendly surprises. Our Child Life and Creative Arts Therapies team frequently updates our Amazon and Target registries with our most-needed items, and purchases are shipped directly to Children’s Wisconsin. This is our preferred in-kind donation method — it’s fast for you and ensures your donation makes the biggest impact possible!
Shop our Amazon wish list or Target wish list
Your donations in action
Start a virtual fundraiser for books, art supplies and more
Help raise funds for our Child Life and Creative Arts Therapies program by hosting a virtual drive or Facebook fundraiser. Encourage your family, friends, coworkers and professional network to participate. By donating to our virtual toy drive, you allow our team to purchase age-appropriate, fun and comforting items for the kids in our care. Children’s staff use these funds to restock our hospital playrooms — cheering up patients and celebrating milestones and holidays all year long.
What about donating new toys or other items in-person?
Thank you for your generosity! To ensure the health, safety and privacy of the families we serve, our staff is committed to a healing environment. We cannot accept donations without an appointment. Before making an appointment, please review the full list of items we are unable to accept.
Below are our guidelines for drop-off:
- To keep our kids safe from infection, all donated items must be new (store-bought and in their original packaging) and cannot contain latex. We may have to decline or ask you to pause on making your donation if we are short on storage space or donations do not meet Children’s greatest needs.
- Please keep items to a “grab-and-go” size (no larger than 12 inches tall).
- We cannot accept gently used items, items that have been stored for an extended period of time or food.
- All donations must be free from violence or otherwise inappropriate themes, unhealthy habits or religious themes.
- Select handmade items are accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please connect with our donations team for additional information about our current needs and infection control guidelines.
- Questions? Email toydonations@childrenswi.org or call our donation staff in Milwaukee at (414) 266-2183 or in Neenah at (920) 967-9129.
In order for donations to be considered for the holidays, ALL items must be dropped off by Monday, December 9, 2024.
In Milwaukee: Donations can be dropped off by appointment only, Monday – Friday, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Please complete this form to schedule a drop off appointment. The following extended holiday drop-off appointments are available:
- Wednesday, December 4, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday, December 7, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
In Neenah: At this time, donations will only be accepted from our gift registries. Shop our Amazon wish list or Target wish list.
Many other community organizations accept gently used items. If your items don’t match our needs, we encourage you to contact these organizations to see if they can accept your gently used items.
To respect the privacy of our patients and families, we are unable to allow donors to personally deliver gifts. Our staff ensures gifts are appropriately and equitably distributed throughout our hospitals and clinics.
Learn more from Children’s donation coordinators
Other ways to support Children’s families
Thank you for being thoughtful about giving in the ways that are most meaningful to you and the kids and families of Wisconsin! There are many ways to do so, from volunteering to corporate sponsorships. View our full list to learn more.
Your intentionality and generosity will help us ensure that kids’ futures are brighter than ever.