Joliet Girl Hosts Her Own Toy Drive for Children Fighting Cancer

Joliet girl Jasmine Cisneros (age 11) is giving back to children fighting cancer. Jasmine collected brand new toys from family and friends during the Christmas holiday season, all with the aim of benefitting children fighting cancer. Jasmine heard of the Treasure Chest Foundation and decided to donate the toys to the foundation. The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF), a non-profit organization that provides toys, gifts and gift cards to children and teens diagnosed with cancer nationwide.

Shortly after her successful toy drive, Jasmine visited the Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park warehouse and shared her experience, “I felt bad for the children in the hospital who couldn’t celebrate Christmas with their family and friends. I wanted to bring Christmas to them,” said Jasmine. Jasmine’s mom Mrs. Cisneros said, “I asked Jasmine what she wanted for Christmas and she said ‘nothing.’ All Jasmine wanted was for me to give the toys I would have bought her to the children fighting cancer in the hospital. That’s how it all started.”

POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel is grateful for Jasmine’s help. “I’m overwhelmed by Jasmine’s remarkable demonstration of thoughtfulness and leadership,” said Colleen. “When most eleven year old girls are asked what they want for Christmas, they respond with a list of items for themselves. Jasmine sponsored a toy drive for children who endure years and years of cancer treatment. We are so blessed to have her support.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 9,300 young cancer patients each month. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Ms. Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. She 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 22nd anniversary of remission from the disease in 2015.

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.