T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS - East Marshall High School sophomore Andrew Abramson stands next to one of three toy drive drop-boxes available now through Nov. 19 for patients at the University of Iowa Stead Family ChildrenÕs Hospital.

LE GRAND — East Marshall High School sophomore Andrew Abramson knows exactly what it is like to be stuck at the hospital during Christmas.

He also knows how much joy a gift can bring over the holidays and is leading an effort to get toys and supplies to as many University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital patients and families as possible.

“Basically, it’s giving the kids toys so their parents don’t have to spend money buying toys, so that they can buy medicine,” Andrew said. “I think it would be a great way to give them a Christmas gift.”

Andrew and his mother, Laurie Abramson, said he has the rare form of Dandy Walker Syndrome. A seizure on Christmas Day four years ago sent him to the hospital, and eventually he was taken into care at the hospital in Iowa City.

The family makes a trip back to Iowa City every six months for check-ups.

“He goes ‘Mom, I’ve been there, I went through the same thing,'” Laurie Abramson said.

Andrew said the idea to donate toys and supplies struck him before the school year started in late summer. Since then, the school district has helped expand the effort to the communities of Gilman and Laurel as well.

“He came up with the idea to fill his mom’s minivan with toys,” EMHS special education teacher Laura Ridout said of Andrew. “There are drop-off boxes at each of the East Marshall schools.”

The drop-boxes can be found at East Marshall Elementary School, 201 E. Weissenburger St. in Laurel, at East Marshall Middle School, 225 S. Elm St. in Gilman and at the high school, 201 N. Franklin St. in Le Grand.

There are many items being accepted for the toy drive. They range from gift cards to places like Target, Walmart, restaurants and bookstores, and writing and coloring utensils to Legos, toy cars and clothing.

Andrew said stuffed animals, board games and card games have been popular donations, too.

For supplies, donations can include toiletry items and non-perishable foods.

There are also items to avoid donating. Those include handmade toys, oversized stuffed animals, used items, latex items, candy, fleece baby hats, riding toys, violent toys and games, used medical equipment or any food that is not pre-packaged.

To help boost the number of donations, each school building is competing to see which can collect the most toys and supplies. The winning building will earn a free ice cream party from Culver’s restaurant in Marshalltown.

Andrew said he appreciates all the help with the toy drive. He thanked his friend and fellow student, senior Olivia Parks, for her efforts with the drive.

“I’m very grateful to East Marshall for helping me do this,” Andrew said. “These kids deserve toys. I think all the schools are doing a great job.”

——–

Contact Adam Sodders at

(641) 753-6611 or

asodders@timesrepublican.com