St. Margaret Mary Catholic School in Algonquin Hosts Toy Drive

The children of St. Margaret Mary Catholic School in Algonquin are giving to children and teens fighting cancer. The school sponsored a toy drive to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. After the last toy came in the toy drive brought in three large boxes of toys, $90 in gift cards and $10 for children and teens battling cancer.

St. Margaret Mary Catholic School is committed to Catholic education, developing faith life, building community and Christian service.

4th Grade Teacher Ms. Peggy Orabutt had this to say, “It was our pleasure to collect toys for children fighting cancer. The Treasure Chest Foundation is truly a worthy cause. Thanks for all they do to put smiles on sick children's faces.”

Treasure Chest Foundation Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel expressed her profound gratitude for the generous support shown by the children and families of St. Margaret Mary Catholic School. “The Treasure Chest Foundation is especially grateful to the families at St. Margaret Mary Catholic School for their enormous donation of toys and gift cards,” said Ms. Kisel. “Their donation will help us continue to support brave young children and teens as they endure years of painful procedures in their battle against cancer. We are truly blessed to have their support.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,600 young cancer patients in 62 cancer treatment centers in 20 states across the nation and in the District of Columbia. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Ms. Kisel discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain, noting that when children are diagnosed with cancer their world soon becomes filled with doctors, nurses, chemotherapy drugs, surgeries and seemingly endless painful procedures. Martin celebrated his 28th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of this year.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechest.org.