Zach’s Toy Chest is a local nonprofit, based out of Holly Springs. You may have heard of us, but we aren’t surprised when people haven’t. In fact, all our volunteers love telling others about what we do – bringing hope, joy and a sense of normalcy to kids and families across North Carolina by providing new toys and other essential items while the kids are receiving care at local hospitals. This nonprofit is 100% volunteer based and something special – there isn’t another organization like it in all of North Carolina.
Zach’s Toy Chest was started shortly after our family battled childhood cancer. Our oldest son, Zach, was diagnosed with Stage III Intermediate Risk Neuroblastoma at 10 months old in February 2008. During Zach’s chemotherapy treatments, we realized the lack of activities available for the patients. The seed was planted at that point for what would become Zach’s Toy Chest. In the Fall of 2009, the first toy drive was held and collected just over 600 toys. Today, Zach is a healthy, cancer-free middle schooler.
Over the last 10 years, ZTC has grown tremendously – providing new, unwrapped toys and other essential items to both in-patient and out-patient areas at Duke Children’s Hospital in Durham, UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill and the James & Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital in Greenville.
Zach’s Toy Chest is celebrating this milestone by hosting a 10-year anniversary celebratory casino fundraiser to be held at the Carolina Club in Chapel Hill on Saturday, September 14, 2019. We are currently seeking sponsors to partner with us and raise funds to purchase wish list items requested specifically from the hospitals.
Please reach out to our team at info@zachstoychest.org for specifics on this event and how you can help make our vision a reality for the kids. With your assistance we can keep fighting cancer one toy at a time!
