Students fill ambulance with toys for children’s hospital

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School continues annual 'Stuff the Ambulance' tradition

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — The holiday spirit is alive and well at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, where students collected a large pile of toys destined for children spending their holidays at Kentucky Children’s Hospital.

No sleigh was needed for this delivery, as students packed an ambulance with toys as part of their annual “Stuff the Ambulance” event, now in its 17th year.

“Working in a children’s hospital, these kids go through so much — things that would make an adult whine and cry,” said Deb Rice of Kentucky Children’s Hospital. “Really, just a toy makes them feel better,” said Rice.

The toy drive has been months in the making, organized by students at the school.

“We honestly start from the beginning of the year,” said Aya Shakhashiro, a senior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. “We got together and bought as many toys as we could, and just seeing that many fill up the window was really nice, knowing all these kids could get these toys.”

Once the toys arrive, children at the hospital will have the chance to pick one out for themselves, a moment that staff say brings joy and excitement.

“To be able to walk into a room and see all these toys and pick one out, it thrills them,” said Rice. “You can see it in their eyes and their smiles. They’ll come in with their IVs and then see these toys, and it thrills them.”

Organizers are already looking forward to next year’s event, hoping to collect even more donations to brighten the holidays for children in need.