HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — The Peck family unexpectedly lost their 10-year-old son, Joshua, more than two years ago to bacterial meningitis, and in continuing to remember him, they are helping others by collecting toys and blankets for those at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters — thinking of all the families who have to spend the holidays in the CHKD Pediatric Intensive Care Unit like their son had to.
The family describes Joshua as kind and an old soul who always wanted to help others. This is the second-annual Joshua Chamberlain Project. The first one saw them give away more than 1,200 gifts.
The toys, blankets and holiday decorations help make the hospital rooms more joyful while kids are getting treatments. The first one was so successful, with carloads filled to the brim. Their goal is now to give blankets and toys to the kids and their siblings not just during the holiday season, but also year-round.
“Us just knowing what it’s like to be there over Christmas and how important the blankets and the decorations and the toys were for Josh and his siblings. It just you know, it made us want to continue. It’s a way to occupy ourselves over the holidays. It’s also a way to kind of honor him,” said Joshua’s father Matt Peck.
If you are interested in donating there are multiple locations:
- Jersey Mike’s — 4655 Monticello Ave Suite 202, Williamsburg
- Pivot Physical Therapy — 4125 Ironbound Rd # 100, Williamsburg
- Johnson, Gasink & Baxter, LLP — 1100 Professional Dr, Williamsburg
- Printwell — 3407 Poplar Creek Ln, Williamsburg
- J&J Financial Management, Inc. — 304 Bulifants Blvd, Ste 201, Williamsburg
- Berkshire Hathaway Realty — 4135 Ironbound Rd, Williamsburg
- Leidos QTC Health Services — 6161 Kempsville Circle Suite 340, Norfolk
- AnyTime Fitness Locations — 11740 W Broad Street Ste. 106, Richmond; 13609 Carrollton Blvd. Ste. 8-10, Carrollton; 2999 Corporate Lane Ste. B1-B5, Suffolk; 3352 Princess Anne Rd Ste 905, Virginia Beach; 5251 John Tyler Hwy. Ste. 31, Williamsburg
- Orange Theory — 1430 Richmond Rd B07 707, Williamsburg; 12515 Jefferson Ave, Newport News
- Coastal VA Real Estate — 100 Newsome Dr, Yorktown
If you are interested in donating, click here. All donations are due Dec. 20.