By Morris Seecharan
You hear about hundreds of toy drive during the holiday season, but very seldom from the Tri State cricket community. The Sunrise cricket club a member of the NYSCL in planning their 2011 presentation adopted the idea and with great consensus committed to make a difference in children’s life launching a toy drive.
Members of Sunrise Cricket delivers to Jacobi Hospital play room. Photos by Loretta Cheong
The response from all members, families and friends of Sunrise were heartening as they contribution 50 plus toys for children of all ages. Significantly they selected to donate all toys to hospitalized kids to give comfort, happiness and lifted the spirit of these kids and their families during the holiday season. The most important aspect of this toy drive is the emotional and social support it brings to kids and family adjusting to hospitalization.
On the day of December 27, 2011 all toys from the Sunrise toy drive were generously handed out to the kids of Jacobi Hospital Pediatric by the members, families, and friends of the Sunrise cricket club. The kids smiles were the best the team could hope for. Even though it was 2 days after Christmas the spirit was still in the air and we owe it all to the idea of Ravi Etwaroo for the Toy Drive and his contact Shameer Ameerullah, RN and Head Nurse at Jacobi Adult Emergency Medicine. Shameer embraced the idea of this good deed and communicate it to Marlyn Ho, RN, and Head Nurse at Jacobi Emergency for Pediatric. Marlyn acted in stride and was instrumental in getting clearance in handing the toys, which was a wish come through for Sunrise as they wanted to meet and greet the kids and experience the joy in their faces rather than just dropping off the toys.
Sunrise manager Morris Seecharan (center) poses with Marlyn Ho (left) and Karen Doris.
In the morning of that day Marlyn Ho greeted the Sunrise families with warm affection and made all the arrangement in getting the toys into the hospital and onto a cart for distributions. Most importantly Marylyn introduced us to Karen Doris, RN, Assistant Director of Nursing. Karen Doris is strikingly a people person and her open personality brought instant ease and joy to all of the Sunrise families presented. Most remarkable she spotted a bright red Clifford and some action figures toys on the cart and said, “I know the perfect patients for these toys”. This tells me that Karen has a personal connection to these kids and we were in for a privileged experience.
On the pediatric floor where doctors and nurses were busy with their routines Karen took us around room to room giving description of the patients and introducing the families present. We allowed young Alex Hussain, Sunrise member, and Vanie and Varuna Seecharan, Sunrise manger daughters to hand out most of the toy while other Sunrise family great and wish the patients along their families well. As the action figure toy was handed to the young boy about 12 years old we heard the exclamation of joy, “yes this is what I wanted most”.
It was a rewarding to experience the joy of this patient. As we continue to go down the corridors, I notice the joy in my younger daughter’s Varuna face. It was touching and a picture perfect moment seeing a 5 year old handing toys to kids younger and older than her. Moments like this do not happened too often enough and will be cherished for a life time. At the back of my mind I continue to look for the girl who wanted the Clifford puppy. We left toys for kids who were sleeping, and some who had no family members presents.
Sunrise Cricket Club family poses with Jacobi Hospital administrators.
Finally the door was open with the girl who wanted Clifford toy which Karen had held all along. As Karen extended it to the 13 years old that is delay she leap forward and hugged it. She could not speak much but she makes sure she thanked us in one Spanish word. In addition she was given a Clifford Reading and Learning development pack which eagerly opened. Being able to meet and experience the happiness in that delayed child was the best moment of the day and we all felt it was the most rewarding.
Our distribution ended in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and in one room was a 2 year child suffering from asthma and one could have seen the emotional distress of the young parents. However with Sunrise members showing up it brought support and relief this couple. Most fitting once the little girl was give a puppy toy her expression changed to happiness, and although her face was under a mask and she could not speak we felt the thankfulness glowing from her. The mother of the child hugged the young Sunrise kid handing the toy with great appreciation for sharing that moment with her child. As we finished the toy distribution, Karen thanked all of the Sunrise family and members, and reiterate that our actions of making difference in kids life was inspirational and look forward in working with us in the future.
All the Sunrise members are grateful to all families and friends who donate toys and money toward the toys drive that bring joy and happiness to the kids. Also we are grateful to Shameer Ameerullah, Marlyn Ho, and Karen Doris of Jacobi Hospital for giving us the opportunity in handing the toys to the kids at Jacobi Hospital. Most paramount and with esteem respect the Sunrise family is indebted and appreciative for the altruistic companionship of Marlyn and Karen.
The world needs abundance of love and less hate, and we do not need to wait for the holidays to give. We can make a difference everyday in our lives especially towards kids not only in hospitals but those who are displaced through homelessness, hunger, natural disaster etc. The Sunrise cricket club hope by sharing our toy drive experience it will inspired others in our cricket community to help to make a difference with kids who are in need.
