Spread Cheer with Treasure Chest Foundation Toy Drive

Oak Forest is taking part in the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation's holiday toy drive, with a drop box located at City Hall. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 21.

It's easy to brighten the day of a child with cancer—it's as simple as dropping a toy in a bin. Oak Forest residents can help out this holiday season, by contributing to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation's annual toy drive. Founded by Oak Forest resident Colleen Kisel, Treasure Chest is a non-profit organization that provides children and teens diagnosed with cancer with toys, gifts or giftcards to 42 hospitals in 13 states. Sixteen years ago, Kisel dreamed of an organization that provides children undergoing cancer treatments with much-needed distraction and levity. After watching her 7-year-old son Martin undergo four years of treatment for leukemia, she learned firsthand the role a toy could play. Toys helped him through …

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Treasure Chest Chock Full of Gifts for Kids

The Orland Park-based foundation collects toys for children suffering from cancer and recently saw a 20 percent increase in donations.

Kristine Bulian knew what her family had to do. About two and a half years ago, her daughter Hannah was admitted to Advocate Hope Children's Hospital for intense chemotherapy to treat leukemia. It was her 12th birthday. When the doctors found out it was Hannah's birthday, she immediately got to pick a present from the "treasure chest," a selection of toys donated to hospitals across the country from the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. During 16 hospital stays that followed after her birthday, the staff would bring her toys to choose from on days when she needed rest, especially after a difficult procedure. "It was significant. She always smiled," Kristine Bulian said.  "The hospital staff would always look for the perfect …

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Gone Fishin'

Give 'em 5: Patch Gives Back

As a sign of appreciation and celebration of your community, I headed out for some volunteer time at a local charity.

Editor's Note: Most days, you'll find me with my nose buried in a MacBook, fielding e-mails, updating the site and editing stories. But five days a year, my schedule's a little different. Patch has a company-wide initiative called "Give 5" when your friendly Patch editors set aside our sites for a few hours and head out into our communities to contribute however we can. This sincere appreciation and contribution to our communities is the core of Patch. The editors not only cover their communities but also become part of them. Keep reading to hear about my first Give 5 experience with a very special organization and brainchild of an Oak Forest resident. People often tell me I'm big-hearted. I'm kick-started by the smallest acts of human …

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Toy Drive Bin Overflowing with Donations for Cancer Patients

As the deadline for donations to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation nears, the bin is filled to the brim—and over it.

The barrel runneth over for the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. Founded by Oak Forest's own Colleen Kisel, the foundation calls for new, unwrapped toys for children undergoing cancer treatments across the country. The city of Oak Forest supports the foundation as its main toy drive effort this Christmas season. The bin at city hall is currently stuffed, with toys piling up around at the base—with room for more. The deadline for donations is this Friday, Dec. 17. The foundation is just one of six ways you can give back to your community this season. Click the link above for more options.

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