Danbury student heads toy drive to benefit children’s hospital

 

Former third-grade patient collects hundreds of items                  

When Savannah Coscarella, a third-grade student at Park Avenue School, was a patient at Hartford Children’s Hospital last fall, she saw it not only as an opportunity to get better, but also an opportunity to help others get better.

When she saw that the playroom at the hospital lacked some of the items necessary to occupy a young patient, Savannah created “Savannah’s Hope,” to inspire people to help spread smiles by donating. Savannah, who was treated for a tumor that was ultimately benign, sent a flier out to the some 600 students at her school asking them to donate toy, games and books between December 15, 2015, and Jan. 30, 2016.

In the main office of Park Avenue School are boxes packed with an assortment of more than 400 toys, markers, books and games donated from nearly every student and his or her family at the school. Savannah and her family will deliver the donations on Feb. 22.

Savannah’s hope: “For another kid to have hope. For them to have a smile on their face.”