Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the headquarters of the local charity organization Noahs Dragons as it begins its annual holiday toy drive for the kids at Spring Harbor Psychiatric Hospital.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the headquarters of the local charity organization Noah’s Dragons as it begins its annual holiday toy drive for the kids at Spring Harbor Psychiatric Hospital in Westbrook.
Noah’s Dragons, in collaboration with local community members and organizations, has helped make Christmas happen for the children who spend the holidays as inpatients at Spring Harbor Psychiatric Hospital.
The Noah’s Dragons toy drive for Spring Harbor Hospital was founded by a local young cancer patient, Noah Jones, and his family, from his hospital room at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, in response to what he realized then was a huge disparity in awareness, donations, and support for the kids at this nearby psychiatric hospital.
Today, the organization, in collaboration with local community members and organizations, has helped make Christmas happen for the children who spend the holidays inpatient at Spring Harbor Psychiatric Hospital since that first delivery of toys on Christmas 2013.
Spring Harbor provides inpatient care and services to children and adolescents with acute psychiatric disorders, autism and developmental disorders, and co-occurring substance abuse issues.
The financial burden of a hospitalized child is huge, and yet resources and help for those with a child with mental illness are scarce and difficult to find. These children and their families are in desperate need of support and care. Purchasing a toy, book, or gift for a child this year at Spring Harbor Psychiatric Hospital is an opportunity for the community to bridge this gap. Children hospitalized for mental illness deserve access to the same holiday caring, joy, and opportunity for celebration as children in other more visible pediatric hospitals.
The mission of Noah’s Dragon’s annual toy drive is to provide that holiday magic, to make certain that these children know they are not forgotten, that they matter, and that they are loved.
For more information on how to contribute a new unwrapped toy or book, contact the organization on its Facebook page at “The Amazing Noah Jones.” Donations are being accepted until Dec. 17 at Neighborhood Clay, at 590 Main St. in Damariscotta Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizers can be reached for questions or donations, or to arrange a pickup, at cathryn_a_jones@yahoo.com or cathryn.jones@lchcare.org.
