#Elliestrong Holds Toiletry Drive For Lurie Children's Hospital

LEMONT, IL — #Elliestrong, a Lemont nonprofit, is holding a toiletry drive for the cancer in-patient floor at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago.

The nonprofit helps local families fighting cancer in memory of Ellie Cuiching, who lost her battle with cancer when she was 14.

Kyle Cuiching, Ellie's mom, told Patch the organization has done a toiletry drive every year since Ellie died in 2019.

"[We] have donated over 450 'we care bags' to the families on the oncology floor at Lurie Children's that need these basic necessities," Cuiching said.

The idea for the toiletry drive comes from Cuiching's own time in hospitals with her daughter. When Ellie was airlifted to Chicago from Miami, Cuiching said she just had the clothes on her back.

"I could not leave my daughter hooked up to all these machines to get everything I needed for my stay," she said. At this point, I realized there was a real need for these parents that are sent to the hospital in an emergency. If just one small thing could help in such a devastating situation, I wanted to help."

The toiletry drive is collecting new travel-size items including body wash/bars, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush, lotion, travel-size Q-tips, chapstick, washcloth/loofah, deodorant, tissues and hair ties.

Items can be dropped off to porch bins at the Horn House, 547 Carriage Ridge Lane; the Cuiching House at 1247 Abbey Oaks Drive; and in the lobbies of Lemont Active Chiro, 15947 W. 127th St., Suite G; and MAX Physical Therapy, 182 E. Wend St.

"I cannot stress how important it is for these families to have. A little comfort to be able to care for themselves and their children with basic needs during these hard times," Cuiching said.

Items will be collected until Nov. 15.