MILLERSVILLE, Md. — Linda's Way, a DMV cancer support nonprofit, is running a Christmas in July Toy Drive for pediatric cancer patients at two local hospitals.
Romeo White, an active-duty Air Force member, launched the nonprofit this year after losing his own mother, Linda, to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma when he was a teenager.
"I wanted to create something for teenagers and young adults that are in a similar situation to where I was and provide mentorship and leadership to them to kind of help fill a void during a really important part of their life," said White.
The toy drive will benefit patients at Inova's medical campus in Fairfax and the University of Maryland Children's Hospital. Each hospital will have toy distribution event at the end of July. White says they are requesting new toys for kids ages 2 through 17, with a focus on STEM toys and toys that are nonviolent. White says he hopes this will bring a smile to kids and their families battling cancer.
"Uplift families in need cancer impacts all of us whether directly through a family member or indirectly through a coworker or neighbor. Just letting everybody know that this is a year round fight not necessarily just the holidays even though we’re using the holiday theme to bring awareness," said White.
Linda's Way will be collecting toys until July 25th at the following locations:
Above & Beyond Pediatrics
12070 Old Line Center Suite 212
Waldorf, MD 20602
Above & Beyond Pediatrics
8700 Central Ave Suite 203
Landover, MD 20785
Joint Base Andrews (CAC Holders Only)
1840 Robert M Bond Dr.
Joint Base Andrew, MD 20672
Springfield Mall (across from Starbucks)
6500 Springfield Mall
Springfield, VA 22150
*Dates: June 29 - 30 & July 6, 7, 13, 14
Starbucks
684 Old Mill Rd
Millersville, MD 21108
Another Broken Egg Cafe
7700 Hearthside Way
Elkridge, MD 21075
Click here to send a monetary donation.
Click here to shop the organization's Amazon toy drive wish list.