Toy & Book Drive For Children in Remembrance of Thérèse

April 1 - 30, 2026

Fifth Annual Toy & Book Drive

A collection for patients of Philly's largest children's hospital in remembrance of the one and only, Thérèse Gallagher, during her birthday month.

Toy & Book Drive

In loving memory of Thérèse Gallagher, her family—Joe (husband), Emily and Garrett (children), Annie (sister-in-law), and Sue (niece)—hosts an Annual Toy & Book Drive for patients at Philadelphia's largest children's hospital. They collect new toys + new or gently used books for children of all abilities and who speak a variety of languages.

Donations go directly to CHOP's Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care Welcome Center, a happy haven for patients and their families visiting for outpatient appointments. Before or after an appointment, children can pick out a toy or book to call their own. Additionally, Welcome Center staff bring the beloved book cart (pictured below) around, putting books in kids' hands and encouraging a love of reading.

Help Thérèse's family stock the welcome center with toys and books that make a child's visit to CHOP a little brighter.

Please join us in honoring Thérèse’s legacy by contributing.

Thérèse truly enjoyed being in the presence of kids, especially her many nieces, nephews, and godchildren. As a school-based Occupational Therapist (OT), she helped children thrive in and outside the classroom. Her career was a calling that we honor each year.

She is missed beyond words.

The deadline to contribute was April 30, 2026.

Thank you to all who donated!

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE

①

Drop donation item(s) off locally

Shop small businesses (list below) or spring clean your collection of books, then arrange to drop donations off to Emily (Philly or Havertown), Annie (Springfield), or Joe (Ridley).Contact Emily via email or call/text to coordinate.

Email Emily

②

Fulfill a donation item via wishlist

Fulfill donation items on our wishlist. Select "Gallagher Family" as the shipping address.*Include your name so we know who to thank!*

Visit Wishlist

③

Contribute with a monetary donation

Make a monetary donation via Venmo that will help to secure even more donation items.
Venmo user name: @emgallag

Donate via Venmo

Please note we are unable to accept used toys. Gently used books are ok!

SHOP SMALL BUSINESSES

BURBS

Cathy's Half Price Books

📍 1305 West Chester Pike, Havertown, PA

Learning Express of Havertown

📍 1305 West Chester Pike Store #23, Havertown, PA

Mavey Books

📍 8 Cricket Ave, Ardmore, PA

Bookish Notions

📍 11 E State St, Media, PA

pucciManuli

📍 2 E Lancaster Ave, Ardmore, PA

Children's Book World

📍 17 Haverford Station Rd, Haverford, PA

Kandy Kids

📍 5 S Chester Rd #2801, Swarthmore, PA

PHILLY

A Novel Idea

📍 1726 E Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, PA

Head House Books

📍 619 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA

Ali's Wagon

📍 2017 Fairmount Ave #19, Philadelphia, PA

Tildie's Toy Box

📍 1829 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA

Moon + Arrow

📍 742 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA

Minnow Lane

📍 2029 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA

HELP SPREAD THE WORD

Visit our promotional toolkit for graphics and flyers.

Questions?

Please call, text, or email Emily (emilyrgtu@gmail.com).

SPECIAL THANKS

A heartfelt thanks to Thérèse's beloved sister-in-law, Annie Wright, and niece, Sue Hough, for initiating this donation drive! Annie, a retired RN, volunteers at CHOP, where her idea for this donation drive was born.

Laverne Pierce, Family & Visitor Services Specialist at CHOP — thank you for partnering with us through the years to make this drive possible.

2026

600+ book and toy donations

$2,865 in monetary contributions that allow us to donate additional books and toys!

2025

650+ book and toy donations

$1,554 in monetary contributions that allowed us to donate additional books and toys!

2024

300+ book and toy donations

$2,060 in monetary contributions that allowed us to donate additional books and toys!

2023

250+ book and toy donations

$2,000 in monetary contributions that allowed us to donate additional books and toys as well as bottles and diapers for families.

2022

115+ book and toy donations

$4,650 in monetary donations that allowed us to donate even more books and toys!

THANK YOU FOR VISITING

Google Sites

Report abuse