Teen's Toy Drive Supports Sick Kids In Memory Of Millburn Pediatrician

By Jason Koestenblatt (Patch Staff)

It is the sincerest form of altruism, and Charlie Lia is happy to do it. The Morristown High School student is embarking on his second annual toy drive to benefit the pediatric unit at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.

“Once a patient at St. Barnabas, I wanted to give back to the pediatric unit that saved my life,” Lia told Patch. “I did so in memory of my pediatrician and mentor, Dr. Wesley Boodish of Millburn Pediatrics, who passed away in 2014.”

As such, the toy drive is named “Wesley’s Toy Box” and delivered some 300 new toys to patients at St. Barnabas in its inaugural year.

This year the drive will run from Nov. 24 to Dec. 21 with drop-off locations at Morristown High School, The Learning Express in Morristown, and Millburn Pediatrics. The toys will then be collected by Lia and delivered to patients just before Christmas at St. Barnabas.

Pictured: Charlie Lia and Mrs. Boodish, the wife of the late Dr. Wesley Boodish, with the toys collected in 2014.

Photo Courtesy Charlie Lia.