From March 18 to April 10, The Joy Project will collect stuffed animals for Cook Children’s Medical Center’s pediatric patients for its 19th annual drive. The initiative was first led by kindergarten student Haley Whatley in 2001 as a way to collect bunnies for patients around Easter. It has now grown into an annual drive that has collected more than 50,000 bunnies and bears to comfort patients.
This year, Southlake’s own Brooke and Carys Henry will be coordinating drives across the Metroplex. The Joy Project will also be collecting monetary donations that will go toward the purchase of toiletries such as toothbrushes and toothpaste to help families who are spending time at the hospital. Donations can be dropped off at CISD elementary schools, the Southlake Police Department’s lobby and the Southlake Fire Department’s lobby. Monetary donations can be made at Promise.CookChildrens.org/GoTo/TheJoyProject.