CT Lottery's Children's Hospital Toy Drive Kicking Off

CONNECTICUT, CT — The CT Lottery Thursday announced its annual "Give a Child a Toy, Not a Ticket" holiday toy drive is entering its seventh season. The campaign is designed to "celebrate the season and encourage responsible gambling."

Starting Friday and running through Dec. 31, the CT Lottery is \partnering with iHeartRadio and Connecticut Children's Medical Center to provide toys, gift cards and monetary donations through an online, "touchless" toy drive. The event comes with the message "lottery tickets are not suitable gifts for children," while supporting the patients at CCMC.

To donate a toy, gift card or monetary gift, text "ctlottery" to 243725 or visit give.connecticutchildrens.org/ctlottery to access the Connecticut Children's online wish list.

"We are excited to promote our annual toy drive again this year to continue to educate adults that lottery tickets are not suitable holiday gifts for children," CT Lottery President and CEO Greg Smith said. "We encourage adults to consider donating online as Connecticut Children's is always in need of toys to help provide comfort and enjoyment to patients who are in the hospital during the holidays, and other times throughout the year."

On average, 150 children are treated daily in Connecticut Children’s emergency department alone and each child receives a toy. Toys are also given to every child who has a procedure, celebrates a birthday or special event. They are used in multiple playrooms throughout the hospital, and utilized as a distraction from pain before shots, tests and surgeries. In total, the yearly need for donated toys is great—73,000—ranging from a simple deck of cards or silly bands, to the more substantial, board games and video games.

Since 2008, the CT Lottery has partnered with the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High‐Risk Behaviors at McGill University and the National Council on Problem Gambling during the holidays to promote the message that lottery tickets are not suitable gifts for children.

To reach CT Council on Problem Gambling’s Helpline at 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/get-help for more information.