Mighty Mateo Toy Drive collects record number of donations

Ten years ago it was Matteo Szajnowski’s dying wish to give toys to other sick kids at the McMaster Children’s Hospital. A decade later, his parents, Justin and Nikki, have kept his legacy alive by collecting donations every year; this Christmas is their biggest haul yet.

Mateo was at McMaster Children’s hospital ten years ago battling ALL Leukemia and he wanted to help the other children in the ward.

Unfortunately, Mateo passed away a few weeks after their first toy drive. Still, his parents have continued the Mighty Mateo Toy Drive to collect presents and gift card donations in his honour. They dropped a truckload off at the McMaster Children’s hospital on Wednesday.

In its 10th year, the Mighty Mateo toy drive packed a Uhaul truck full of toys for sick children stuck in the hospital over the holidays. They also collected roughly $4,000 in gift cards.

The toys will be handed out to kids over several holidays, including Christmas and Hanukkah.

The Szajnowski’s learned firsthand how difficult it was for children and families in the hospital over the holidays and that’s why they keep going.

“We do it not only to honour and keep Mateo’s legacy alive, but we saw firsthand the first year what the child life department here does in terms of making Christmas bright for not only the patients but they also don’t forget the siblings,” Justin said.

CHCH News was told that Wednesday’s donation is the largest the hospital has received this year and it will be needed as the child life department is expected to be full throughout the Christmas holidays.