Even a Small Toy Can Give Courage to Children’s Hospital Patients – “Send Courage with Omniva” Campaign Begins
From 28 September to 31 October, everyone in Latvia is invited to take part in the “Send Courage with Omniva” campaign and send toys free of charge for the Children’s Hospital Courage Boxes. The joint initiative by delivery company Omniva, the Children’s Clinical University Hospital and the Children’s Hospital Foundation aims to replenish the Courage Boxes with new gifts that can encourage children and teenagers undergoing examinations and medical procedures.
For a child, coming to hospital often means encountering an unfamiliar environment, unfamiliar people and procedures that can cause anxiety and fear. At such moments, even seemingly small things can make a difference. The toys and games in the Children’s Hospital Courage Boxes serve as a small reward for a child’s courage – after an examination or procedure, a child or teenager can choose the gift they like most.
“Omniva’s annual campaign helps keep the Children’s Hospital Courage Boxes stocked for several months. Children receive gifts from around 60 Courage Boxes every day, throughout the day, so the need for new items never ends. I sincerely invite both those who are hearing about the Courage Boxes for the first time and those who have supported us in previous years to take part in the campaign. Donations can be made not only individually – many people join forces in teams at schools, kindergartens, workplaces, sports clubs and hobby groups. We are grateful to every donor,” says Sintija Siņica, Project Coordinator at the Children’s Hospital Patient Experience Management Department.
The Courage Boxes help the Children’s Hospital medical staff work more successfully with young patients and reduce their anxiety. The toys and other gifts placed in the Courage Boxes are made possible entirely through donor support – either items purchased or provided by people across Latvia, or gifts purchased by Children’s Hospital staff using donated funds.
The “Send Courage with Omniva” campaign makes helping very simple: choose a toy or another suitable gift for a Courage Box and send it free of charge via an Omniva parcel machine.
“We are delighted that ‘Send Courage with Omniva’ has become a wonderful annual tradition, with more people, families and teams joining every year. We hope to see strong participation again this year, because taking part is very simple – choose a small gift and send it free of charge to the Courage Boxes via an Omniva parcel machine. It does not take much, but for a child in hospital, such a small gift can mean a great deal – a moment of joy and encouragement when they need it most.
We invite everyone to take part and help us fill the Courage Boxes together. Sometimes a small gesture can give a great deal of courage,” says Jānis Andžāns, Head of Corporate Affairs at Omniva.
“A child waiting for an examination or procedure in hospital may feel afraid. Facing it can take a great deal of courage. That is why being able to choose a gift from the Courage Box afterwards can mean so much. It is a small reward for great courage and a moment of joy after overcoming a difficult experience. We are delighted that, for the fourth year, this campaign to collect gifts for the Courage Boxes is bringing together families, schools, kindergartens and workplaces.
The cards, children’s drawings and good wishes included with the gifts are particularly touching – they show that along with each gift, children also receive care and encouragement from others. We sincerely thank Omniva and everyone who will help fill the Courage Boxes again this year,” says Vineta Vilistere-Lāce, Head of the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
How to take part
To send a donation, first visit www.omnivaakcija.lv and complete the form. An individual free shipping code will be sent to the email address provided, allowing the toy to be sent to the campaign organisers.
The maximum shipment size is an Omniva parcel machine L-size locker – 39 cm high, 64 cm long and 38 cm wide – and the shipment must not weigh more than 30 kg. On the parcel machine screen, select “Send a parcel”, followed by “Send a parcel with a pre-prepared address label”, and enter the shipment number received by email. All donations sent during the campaign will first be delivered to Omniva’s warehouse and then handed over to the Children’s Hospital.
What can be donated to the Courage Boxes:
New, small toys (up to 10 cm), such as toy cars, dolls, figurines, small books or notebooks, Pop-Its or Play-Doh, soap bubbles, keyrings, stickers and similar items.
What cannot be donated to the Courage Boxes:
Used toys, as items in a hospital environment must meet strict hygiene requirements; damaged or unsafe toys, such as toys containing small parts or magnets; food products, including sweets; and items significantly larger than 10 cm.
The “Send Courage with Omniva” campaign will run from 28 September to 31 October.
Donations to the Children’s Hospital Courage Boxes can also be made through the Children’s Hospital Foundation website, www.bsf.lv, including by setting up a regular monthly donation.