Comer Children’s Donation Wish Lists and Guidelines
Comer Cheer All Year
We invite you to support the Child Life and Family Education program by donating items or by making a financial contribution to support the programs, services and supplies that brighten children’s stays.
Ways to Give: Wish List & Guidelines and Care Pack Assembly Guidelines
Hospital Donation Wish Lists
Visit our Amazon wish lists to choose from a selection of toys, books and other gift items appropriate for patients at Comer Children's. Items purchased from this list will ship directly to the hospital.
Comer Child Life Amazon wish lists by age group:
57th Street Books
Your purchase of a gift card in any denomination will provide a selection of books to support Comer patients. Call 773-684-1300 to purchase over the phone, or visit the store in person (1301 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL).
We encourage online shopping from our book wish list.
- Small LEGO kits
- Infant/toddler toys (plastic)
- Medical play kits
- Art supplies and craft kits (non-toxic)
- Play-Doh party packs
- Non-violent action figures
- Diverse Barbies/dolls
- Board books
- Picture books
- Matchbox cars
- UNO cards
- Popular board games (e.g, Sorry, Connect 4, Monopoly, CandyLand)
- Gift cards (e.g., Amazon, Target, Walmart)
This is an area of high need, as more than 50 percent of our patients are under age 3.
- All plastic toys (birth to 36 months)
- Chunky toddler cars
- Fisher-Price Rainforest Peek-a-Boo Soother, Waterfall
- Graco Sweet Slumber Sound Machines
- Musical and light up toys
- My First Crayola MessFree 2-in-1-Doodle Board (ages 2 and up)
- One-piece toys such as Infantino activity triangles, Fisher-Price pop-up toys
- Stacking cups
- Teethers and rattles
- Action figures (non-violent): Spiderman, Batman, Superman
- African-American baby dolls & Barbies (all plastic)
- Animals and dinosaurs
- Bubble tumblers (no spill containers)
- Picture books
- Small Lego kits
- Thomas the Train, Frozen, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Paw Patrol items
- Fun socks and slippers
- Games: Monopoly, Sorry, Battleship, Scrabble, Connect 4, Clue, Apples to Apples, Bananagrams, Boggle, Trouble (full and travel size)
- Handheld electronic games (i.e. 20 Questions, Connect 4, Battleship)
- Headphones/earbuds
- Journals and scrapbooks
- Gift cards (Amazon, Target)
- Word search puzzle books
- iPads and Kindles
- New release DVD movies (Rated G, PG, PG-13)
- Nintendo Switch game systems and games (Rated E, E10+)
- Batteries – AA, C, D, 9-volt
In order to adhere to Hospital Policy and Best Practice, all toy donations must follow these strict guidelines:
- Brand new (original tags/packaging still on all items)
- Non-violent (no toys with weapons, such as guns or knives)
- Durable, non-toxic and plastic
- Non-denominational
- Not gift wrapped
Due to safety and infection control guidelines, we are unable to accept:
- Homemade items
- Foam toys/puzzles
- Candles
- Food
- Anything breakable (i.e., ceramic, glass)
- Sharp items (nail clippers, metal nail files)
- Anything with Latex
- Small Rubber Balls
- Magnetic Toys
During this unprecedented time, we encourage donations to be made online and shipped directly to our team at the following address:
Comer Children's Hospital
Amy Carter – Child Life K135
5835 S. Cottage Grove Ave. MC8008
Chicago, IL 60637
If you have questions about donations, please reach out to Amy at 773-702-0407.
Generous gifts of gift cards and cash are an incredible way to make an impact on the needs of the Child Life and Family Education Program at Comer Children’s.
Please visit this link to contribute: givetoday.uchicago.edu