Today, 13 year-old Children's Miracle Network Ambassador Mackenzie Scott announced the second annual Fire Truck O'Toys charity toy drive sponsored by Boxing Clever, Children's Miracle Network, The St. Louis Rams and Build-A-Bear Workshop®. Mackenzie, a former St. Louis Children's Hospital patient and the 2012 ambassador, is launching this gift-giving project to bring cheer to young patients hospitalized over the holidays.
Wednesday, December 19, at 1 pm, the antique fire truck will be loaded up at Boxing Clever's office, located at 1017 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63101. Then, the Children's Miracle Network Ambassadors, Mackenzie Scott and Camryn Akerson, along with Santa and all of the toys will be making their first stop of the year at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital arriving around 2:00 pm. St. Louis Cardinal Matt Holliday will be there to meet the truck and help to distribute toys to families in Cardinal Glennon's atrium.
Friday, December 21, at 1 pm, Santa and his elves will again load his fire truck with toys at Boxing Clever's downtown office. Mackenzie Scott, Camryn Akerson, Santa, the St. Louis Ram's mascot, Rampage and Build-A-Bear Workshop's Bearemy® will ride the toy-filled truck to St. Louis Children's Hospital arriving at approximately 2:30 pm. The group will be distributing toys to patients and their families.
"Being in the hospital during Christmas is a tough way to spend the holidays," said Mackenzie. "Bringing children gifts for the holidays is a way we can help those who may not get to spend time with their entire families. Families celebrating the holidays in a hospital room are always in need of some extra cheer!"
In 2007, Mackenzie captured the hearts of the Build-A-Bear family when her story was featured in the company's 10-year anniversary and Year of Friendship newsletters.
"The importance that Build-A-Bear Workshop® played in her recovery can't be understated. They were her place of refuge where she was treated like a princess as she rode in on her wheelchair," said Renee Scott, Mackenzie's mother. Build-A-Bear has provided a donation of furry friends, and to help spread holiday cheer, Bearemy, the Build-A-Bear huggable mascot, will ride the Fire Truck O'Toys to help deliver the gifts along with Santa, Rampage and Mackenzie!
Now, in 2012, Mackenzie's spirit has again grabbed the attention a new group of supporters, The Children's Miracle Network of St. Louis and the St. Louis Rams. Each is proudly supporting her efforts to bring the patients of these two great children's hospitals some joy this holiday season.
"Mackenzie's time as the Children's Miracle Network Ambassador is a gift to us. The staff and families at both of these Children's Hospitals have been amazingly supportive to our family. We realize that no matter how bad our situation was, there were families dealing with so much more," said Dave Scott, Mackenzie's dad and partner at Boxing Clever. "In our daughter's moments of fear, a simple gift helped her to overcome. Now she wants to give kids in her place a chance to feel that comfort, too. We're lucky to have the resources and community support to help—it's humbling to see so many support of her dream to give!"
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