'A lot of happy tears': Angmering mum thanks community after Worthing Hospital toy appeal
An Angmering mum has thanked the local community after residents helped her donate an entire wishlist of toys to Worthing Hospital.
Charlotte Allen, 36, was inspired to launch a toy appeal after taking her youngest son to the children’s A&E department.
During the visit, the mum-of-two said she noticed a lack of toys for children in the waiting room.
“What was there was sort of broken or missing parts,” she said.
“I saw they had a wishlist up on the wall, and I spoke to one of the doctors who said it doesn’t get updated very often, but they were in desperate need. I just thought, in that sort of time, when children are so poorly, you’d do anything to take their mind off it.”
Charlotte created a wishlist featuring items such as card games, sticker books, Barbies and building blocks, and shared the link on social media to encourage residents to contribute.
She said: “Hospitals are scary as it is, and they're so busy and loud.
"If a child's got a toy, they can just immerse themselves in that. It's not going to necessarily take away how they're feeling at the time, but it might help them take their mind off it just for a little bit.
“It’s a bit of a saving grace for parents too. When your child's poorly, the last thing you think is, 'I've got to grab toys to take with me’. You just want to get your child seen and better. “
Friends, family and members of the wider community helped purchase all 26 items on the wishlist, leaving Charlotte ‘blown away’ by their kindness.
Charlotte delivered the toys to the hospital on Saturday (November 7), saying the experience brought ‘a lot of happy tears on my behalf’. She also bought staff biscuits and chocolate to ‘say thank you for all their hard work’.
“I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped make this a success,” she added.
“I hope the toys bring joy and happiness to all the children who use them in those moments of need.”