On Tuesday December 22nd, 2009, the Arizona Ghostbusters visited two of the local major children's hospitals to deliver toys for the holidays. The hospitals visited were Cardon's Children's Medical Center and Phoenix Children's Hospital. These deliveries have long been in the making with our first collection of donations starting with our screening of “Ghostbusters” in November and our actual toy drive earlier in the month. Between the screening and the toy drive we were able to collect $450 in cash donations and over 300 toys. The toy drive and these deliveries benefitted families that are a part of the local Children's Cancer Network. The network assists families that have children undergoing cancer treatment with obtaining care services, transportation, offer encouragement and support, and help brighten their holidays. This was our first toy drive and delivery with the network and certainly won't be our last. The hospitals have been on lockdown from flu fears and in some pics you can see some patients wearing face masks just in case.

The first delivery of the day was at Cardon's Medical Center. There the toys were set up in a mini-theater and Real Ghostbuster episodes were played for the children coming in. The children at this hospital were still undergoing regular treatment and will unfortunately still be there during Christmas. The children came in with their parents and picked out toys and ate breakfast. Each toy we collected was marked with a sticker with our combined logo with the Network. Some children had seen the cartoon before and some hadn't, but they all enjoyed them. It was definitely a welcome break from their treatment schedules and we were told before we left the children were already enjoying their toys. The second delivery was at the Phoenix Children's Hospital outpatient wing where children and families regularly come for treatment. There the toys were set up in a smaller room due to space with the GB soundtrack playing. After treatment the children came in and picked out their toys. The toys not used on these deliveries will be used on Christmas morning and will also be handed out throughout the year to new patients.

I can't convey how happy and proud we are to have helped with these deliveries. We have participated in several toy drives since we started but this was the first time were able to deliver the toys and meet the recipients. The treatment these children are going through is tough, especially during the holidays, but these children are tough as well. In a perfect world no child would ever be sick but unfortunately it doesn't work that way. When you visit these children the first thing that runs through your head is that these children shouldn't be here, they should be out playing, but then you realize that they have to be, otherwise they won't get to have the normal childhood they should. There's nothing like seeing a childs face light up and knowing you helped is really one of the greatest feelings you can ever have. Visits like these are certainly something I hope all GB teams can participate in some day.

Cardon's Children's Medical Center



Jeff, Matt, Neal, and Zak



RGB on screen



Toys







Toy selection















Phoenix Children's Hospital

Great job you guys!

Thanks. It was a great way to wrap up the year.

I think I saw some firemen deliver gifts to children in hospital on the news a few nights ago. You and your AZGB friends were the first thing I thought of.

You guys rock! My buddy and I are organizing an Ottawa Ghostbusters division and would love to visit CHEO (a local childrens hospital here in Ottawa). If you could PM me on how you organized your event, we'd love to follow suit and do the same.

You guys all rock and I'm so happy you did what you did.

Thanks again everyone.

It's really sweet of you guys to donate your time like that. I've always had a fear of hospitals so it's nice to see someone's out there trying to change that a little bit in their own way.

I know what you mean about hospitals. The hopeful focus of the hospitals certainly helps change my view of them.