In the News

9-Year-Old Brownsville Girl Collects Toys for Hospitalized Children

BROWNSVILLE, Dec. 16, 2005  –  Because of the generosity of a 9-year-old Brownsville girl, children who are hospitalized at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville will have toys to play with when they are in the hospital.

Alexandra Victoria (Ali) Garza, a fourth grader at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Brownsville, will be collecting toys throughout the community to fill a toy box which her family has donated to Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. The toys will give hospitalized children something to focus on besides their illness while they are recovering.

The moveable toy box, named “Ali’s Toy Box,” is wheeled from room to room on the Pediatrics Unit at VBMC-Brownsville. Hospitalized children pick out a toy to play with -- or a stuffed animal to hug. When the child is well enough to leave the hospital, he or she gets to take the toy home.

“Ali’s Toy Box” was donated by Diane and David Garza of Brownsville in the name of their daughter, Ali Garza. The project will benefit hospitalized children not only during the holidays, but throughout the year.  “Ali has a big heart … she’s the right one for this job,” Mr. Garza, a Brownsville attorney, said.

Jim Wesson, CEO of VBMC-Brownsville, received the toy box from Ali and the Garza family. “We really appreciate what the Garza family is doing … this gives our patients something to make them feel better when they are on the Pediatrics Unit,” Mr. Wesson said.

For more information on how you can help keep Ali’s Toy Box filled with toys for hospitalized children, please contact Sandra S. Wilson, Director of Development for VBMC-Brownsville, at (956) 698-5440 or by e-mail by clicking here; or Manuel Chacon, Volunteer Services Director for VBMC-Brownsville, at (956) 698-4059.