Gifts and Donations

Special thought needs to be given to the types of gifts and toys donated to make sure that they are suitable for the young babies, sick children or adolescents.

• Please keep in mind that most of our patients are confined to a hospital bed. If possible, try to give gifts that children can do something with, and that are stimulating and engaging for them. Please avoid toys with small parts that can be a potential choking hazard.
• Please ensure that toys and gifts are not gift-wrapped, to allow for individual safety assessment and age-grouping by hospital staff.

We accept a wide range of gifts for Christmas and patient birthdays throughout the year.

Shortage in Adolescent gifts

Community generosity helps make our patients' hospital stay more comfortable – we are currently experiencing a shortage in gifts for our older patients.

The following items are always popular and, due to infection control policies, must be new:

Clothing

• Plain, comfortable clothing in teen sizing
• Boys underwear in teen sizing
• Fun/colourful socks
• Watches

Technology

• Bluetooth speakers and earphones/headphones
• RC helicopters and cars
• Mobile phone accessories
• Game console vouchers
• Mini DVD players
• LED strip lights

Sport

• Footy-themed gifts – e.g. Port and Crows
• Soccer balls, footballs, sporting equipment
• Vortex
• Beach towels

Personal care

• Cologne, perfume, deodorant packs
• Nail polish, nail care kits
• Toiletry packs – lip balms, body lotions, hand creams etc.
• Good quality make up, body washes, pamper packs
• Infusers
• Face masks
• Affordable hair straighteners or styling tools
• Scrunchies and hair accessories

Experiences

• Cinema tickets
• Gift vouchers for teen and department stores

Craft

• Stationery packs, sketch books, pencils, and journal/writing
• Diamond Art kits
• Watercolour paints
• Paint by Numbers kits
• Advanced/intricate craft packs

Games, toys and books

• Board games
• 3D puzzles
• Puzzles, card games (UNO etc.)
• Fidget toys
• Sensory toys for special needs teens
• Building and STEM/Science activities
• Teenage books and magazines
• Harry Potter (books or merchandise)
• Age-appropriate LEGO kits

Accepted

• Knitted teddies, caterpillars, dolls and animals are a great toy and are used for trauma and reward gifts. We have a collection of free knitting patterns for these items that have been tested in our wards and clinics. If you would like a copy of these patterns please contact our Donations Office on 8161 8348 or email Health.WCHNEvents@sa.gov.au.
• Knitted cardigans/baby outfits. Matching sets are especially welcome.
  

Not accepted

• Knitted blankets
  Unfortunately, we no longer accept knitted blankets, as we have a large stock of these items.
• Knitted beanies
  Unfortunately, we no longer accept knitted beanies, as we have a large stock of these items.

For more information on accepted knitted items, please call (08) 8161 8348.

Excess items will be offered to the Friends of WCH Inc. for sale in their shops (Rainbows or Vics) – both are based at the Women's and Children's Hospital and all profits from the sales go towards vital medical equipment for the hospital.

New underwear and other clothing for all ages (particularly teenage) are especially useful for patients who find themselves in hospital unexpectedly.

We are no longer accepting donations of DVDs. However, we do accept portable DVD players for the wards to share amongst their patients.

Unfortunately, the following items cannot be accepted:

• donations of food or sweets of any kind (this includes baby formula)
• dirty or damaged items of any kind
• knitted baby/premature baby clothes
• second-hand soft toys
• second-hand dolls of any kind
• furniture or second-hand bedding
• second-hand wooden toys
• second-hand board games
• second-hand computers or televisions – unfortunately, these are not compatible with technical systems at the hospital.

Due to being overstocked and limited storage space, we are no longer accepting any second-hand items, including toys and clothing.