Burbank PupScouts Troop 8 Bark for Joy

The PupScouts Troop 8 from Burbank barked for joy when the club delivered a huge shipment of toys, teen items and $85 in gift cards to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) warehouse in Orland Park. The POTCF is a non-profit organization that provides comfort and distraction from painful treatments to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift card in 58 hospitals across 20 states nationwide.

PupScouts are like the girl scout/boy scout organizations except PupScouts is strictly for dogs and their parents. The Pup Scouts are all about having fun, earning badges, serving others, meeting new friends and connecting with the parents.

PupScouts Troop Leader Kimmy Bandusky said, “PupScouts Troop 8 is honored to be hosting their 5th annual toy drive. We are happy to be “Pawtnered fur-ever” with the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation and to bring smiles to our super-heroes. A special thanks to our Pawtners and Founder in New York, PupScout Troop 4 for their help.”

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel expressed her appreciation to members of the PupScouts Troop 8 for their thoughtfulness during this crucial time of the year when successful toy drives can mean ongoing support for thousands of childhood cancer patients. “Every toy the PupScouts donated will end up in the hands of a child or teen battling cancer,” said Colleen. “We are so thankful for their donation and for supporting our mission of providing comfort and smiles of joy to brave young cancer patients and their families.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,000 young cancer patients in 58 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 26th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2019.

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 web site at www.treasurechest.org.

Photo caption (front row, left to right): The Proud members of PupScouts Troop 8 Jennifer Simon and Flo, Gina Aalders and Bella. (back row, left to right) Troop Leader Kimmy Bandusky and Thor, Maryann Bandusky and Xena, and Jalen Aalders display the gifts collected at the Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park warehouse. (Not shown) Marge Krup and Jack, Morgan, Kathleen Chyna and Tazy, Tasha, Bella and Metor.