Burbank PupScouts Troop 8 Bark for Joy while Delivering Toys for Kids

The PupScouts Troop 8 from Burbank barked for joy when the club delivered a huge shipment of toys and $95 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 66 hospitals across 21 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 eighth annual toy drive. We love putting big smiles on the little superheroes' faces. Oh, and the bigger superheroes' faces too. We are dedicated to being here every year to kick off the holiday toy drive season.” PupScout member Kathleen Chyna chimed in, “It’s a feel-good event, it is educational and fun to support the Treasure Chest Foundation.”

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 16,100 young cancer patients in 66 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 29th 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.

(l-r): The Proud members of PupScouts Troop 8 Kathleen Chyna and Tazy, Ryan Krupa, Marge Krupa and Troop Leader Kimmy Bandusky, Thor and Xena display the gifts collected at the Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park warehouse.

Not Pictured: Jennifer Stoppa, Flo, Kelly Ann Bandusky, Stella and Daisy