MAHONING TOWNSHIP – A room filled with toys at Janet Weis Children's Hospital near Danville still looked full Wednesday, but parents have already picked out toys for around 150 children.
The donations help mothers such as Phylicia Martz of Mifflinburg. Her 9-month-old daughter has a brain abnormality that's kept her a patient since birth.
"I was like, 'just get me home by Christmas, just get me home by Christmas,' and the doctors were like, 'oh, sure! No problem,'" Martz said.
But Phylicia, her daughter, and many other people can't leave the hospital for Christmas. So Christmas comes to them through Geisinger's 15th annual toy shop.
Employees say it's the biggest one yet.
There's also a storage warehouse right off the facility that has 60 boxes filled to the top with toys.
Some people may think the large amount of toys means Geisinger does not need donations. Employees say that's not true. The toys are spread out all over Geisinger Health System. That means the toys go to Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Williamsport, Altoona, and beyond.
"We use these toys throughout the year for last chemo parties and birthday parties or if a child just needs a pick-me-up," Maggie Heimbuch said.
Mom Phylicia Martz calls the toy donations a blessing, since she cannot leave the hospital to go Christmas shopping.
"A sense of, 'OK, this will be OK,'" Martz said.
The staff at Geisinger says they would like to thank the people of northeastern and central Pennsylvania, because most of these toys came from you.