WESTFIELD-With a shortage of toys and games for pediatric patients at Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield, one city teen has answered the call by organizing a community drive this month to help fill the void.
On Tuesday afternoon, Rachael Cyrankowski, 14, and her mother, Roxanne Cyrankowski, were putting the final logistics together for a collection at Westfield Technical Academy, where Rachael is a freshman.
Roxanne Cyrankowski and her daughter, Rachael, have started a community toy drive to benefit Baystate Children’s Hospital.
“It’s important to help other people and especially kids who are recovering in the hospital,” said Rachael Cyrankowski, noting she has been inspired over the years to give back to the community through her family members.
“My two older sisters, Emily and Katey, have been role models for me because of their commitment to community service over the years,” said Rachael Cyrankowski.
Roxanne Cyrankowski and her husband Michael are proud of all of their children and have instilled in them the importance of “paying it forward” to address community needs.
“We pay it forward as a family as often as we can,” said Roxanne Cyrankowski.
Having been a member of the Kline View Korral 4-H Club of Southwick for five years, Cyrankowski also takes the 4-H pledge to heart which includes pledging one’s hands to larger service.
“Whether it’s in school, 4-H or on her own, Rachael finds some type of community service to perform each year,” said Roxanne Cyrankowski.
Indeed.
Her community deeds have run the gamut from collecting coats from friends and family and washing them for the Coats for Kids drive, to making pet beds and collecting animal food for the local animal shelter. Rachael has also donated her time during the holiday season ringing bells for the Salvation Army and helping an elderly neighbor shovel her driveway.
As an avid horse rider, she has also given rides on her quarter horse pony “Pepsi” to raise money for the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Cancer Center, and volunteers her time at the Westfield Riding Club horse shows.
“Recently, a friend shared an article from Baystate Children’s Hospital looking for toys and supplies to give to the children receiving medical care,” said Roxanne Cyrankowski. “Rachael and I discussed how we could help and she decided to decorate bags and fill them with items we purchase or she collects from friends and family and gives them to young teens to help them through a difficult time.”
Items sought by the hospital includes crayons, coloring books, markers, pens, pencils, playing cards, games, arts and crafts kits, makeup kits and nail care kits and polish.
“Journals are especially important for teens and we are hoping we will receive donations of those in particular,” said Rachael Cyrankowski.
Due to the hospital’s infection control policy and the safety of its patients, only new items can be accepted with the exception of age-appropriate DVD’s and video games. Also, donations of toys with fabric or cloth are not recommended.
For area residents interested in making donations to this local drive, contact the Cyrankowski family at (413) 572-4968 or via email to [email protected]. Donations will be picked up by family members. Westfield Tech students will also have a box available to them to drop off donations.
“Being in the hospital isn’t fun,” said Rachael Cyrankowski. “We hope these donations will brighten up the lives of kids in our area.”
