Wroble Family Organize Toy Drive to Help Children with Cancer

New Lenox residents Randy and Paula Wroble hosted a toy drive by asking neighbors, friends and family to donate a toy with the goal of helping children and teens fighting cancer. After the last toy had been collected, two van loads of toys and $120 in gift cards to be distributed to children fighting cancer was delivered to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) warehouse in Orland Park.

Paula Wroble said, “We continue to support the Treasure Chest Foundation each holiday season. Not only does our family love doing this the toy drive has become a big part of our friends, neighbors and teammates holiday tradition.” Paula’s son Joey Wroble said, “I want to help my mom help kids fighting cancer.”

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel extended her most sincere gratitude to the Wroble family and friends for their efforts in organizing such an innovative and interesting toy drive. “Though this has been a trying time for many, the support of the Wroble friends and family is beyond belief. We are humbled by the outpouring of generosity and we are certainly grateful to be able to distribute such an impressive number of toys to the brave children and teens battling cancer.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,800 young cancer patients in 63 cancer treatment centers in 21 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 1-708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechest.org.