CocheseUGA
12-19-2007, 09:58 AM
As we approach 2x the goal for this great charity, I must applaud each and every one of you who donated to it. That's an outstanding effort and something to be proud of.
I have not, and have no plans to donate to this charity though. I've donated directly through the Children's Miracle Network.
For a couple of years I've talked about how it's been great that kids have something to do while they are waiting for their treatment or slowly dying without their families around. It's nice to be able to give them something. But I've always said that there may be a better use for the money: helping these kids live, or leave the hospital sooner.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I can say that every single bed in Georgia is filled right now with kids. There's no room at any of the four hospitals that are equipped for Pediatric ICU, and I believe all the floor beds are full as well. That's a TON of kids that are sick or injured right now, and we (at least) need more funds to hire more nurses, expand these units, and bring more doctors on-board.
Children's healthcare services lose a lot of money for hospitals. Not nearly as much as the ED does, but a lot of these families can't afford to pay their bills, much less take off time from work. As a result, more hospitals as a rule are decreasing their bed capacity, or shutting their units down completely. If families have to rely on assistance, those families have to travel to a hospital in their own state - Medicaid/Medicare does not transfer between states. So a child that gets sick in Valdosta (check a map) has to go to Savannah, Macon, Augusta or Atlanta to get treatment - not the short distance to Talahassee's PICU.
I'm definetly not saying don't donate to Child's Play. If you go that route, more power to you. I'm sure the children will have a great Christmas/Holiday.
I'm merely pointing out other avenues you can take to help these kids.
Children's Miracle Network (http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org/) helps hospitals get the equipment and people they need to help these kids get better. Your donation stays in your community.
Ronald McDonald Houses (http://www.rmhc.org/) allow a place for families to stay with their child when they get transfered to an out-of-town hospital.
Non-sick
Toys for Tots/Toys for Teens (http://www.toysfortots.org/) help less fortunate families fufill a wish.
Your local mall will probably have Giving Trees for the Salvation Army, AIDS Home, etc.
Again, thanks for giving nearly $20K to Child's Play. Just please, PLEASE, don't forget the other charities out there. Hope no one thinks I'm ripping Child's Play.
I have not, and have no plans to donate to this charity though. I've donated directly through the Children's Miracle Network.
For a couple of years I've talked about how it's been great that kids have something to do while they are waiting for their treatment or slowly dying without their families around. It's nice to be able to give them something. But I've always said that there may be a better use for the money: helping these kids live, or leave the hospital sooner.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I can say that every single bed in Georgia is filled right now with kids. There's no room at any of the four hospitals that are equipped for Pediatric ICU, and I believe all the floor beds are full as well. That's a TON of kids that are sick or injured right now, and we (at least) need more funds to hire more nurses, expand these units, and bring more doctors on-board.
Children's healthcare services lose a lot of money for hospitals. Not nearly as much as the ED does, but a lot of these families can't afford to pay their bills, much less take off time from work. As a result, more hospitals as a rule are decreasing their bed capacity, or shutting their units down completely. If families have to rely on assistance, those families have to travel to a hospital in their own state - Medicaid/Medicare does not transfer between states. So a child that gets sick in Valdosta (check a map) has to go to Savannah, Macon, Augusta or Atlanta to get treatment - not the short distance to Talahassee's PICU.
I'm definetly not saying don't donate to Child's Play. If you go that route, more power to you. I'm sure the children will have a great Christmas/Holiday.
I'm merely pointing out other avenues you can take to help these kids.
Children's Miracle Network (http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org/) helps hospitals get the equipment and people they need to help these kids get better. Your donation stays in your community.
Ronald McDonald Houses (http://www.rmhc.org/) allow a place for families to stay with their child when they get transfered to an out-of-town hospital.
Non-sick
Toys for Tots/Toys for Teens (http://www.toysfortots.org/) help less fortunate families fufill a wish.
Your local mall will probably have Giving Trees for the Salvation Army, AIDS Home, etc.
Again, thanks for giving nearly $20K to Child's Play. Just please, PLEASE, don't forget the other charities out there. Hope no one thinks I'm ripping Child's Play.