New Lenox 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 picked up, a vanload of gifts to be distributed to children fighting cancer was delivered 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 procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift card in 49 cancer treatment centers across 17 states nationwide.

Paula Wroble said, “We look forward to helping the kids every year. Our family, neighbors and friends all look forward to participating and making each year better than the last.”

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. “What a great idea they had, asking residents to leave a new toy on their front porch. No one had to drive anywhere. The residents were extremely generous and probably happy to have their donations picked up. 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 not-for-profit Treasure Chest Foundation now supports more than 9,300 children and teens each month who are diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy or gift card in 49 hospitals nationwide. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. CEO Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Colleen discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain. 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.