GENTRY, AR – The Gentry High School Student Council — supported by the generosity of the Gentry community — collected more than 150 new toys to benefit children receiving care at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Arkansas Children’s Northwest.
The toys were gathered during last week’s annual “Toy Toss” basketball game, where students, families, and fans tossed new toys onto the court as a show of support for children spending their holidays in the hospital. The event, organized each year by the high school’s student council, continues to grow in impact thanks to strong community involvement.
This Friday, student council members will deliver the donated toys to the Festival of Stars Toy and Donation Drive, Arkansas Children’s largest statewide holiday event. Volunteers, team members, and community organizations gather at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Arkansas Children’s Northwest to spread joy and comfort to patients and families during the holiday season.
The impact of Festival of Stars is felt deeply by the families it serves:
“Santa knew I was in the hospital this year and found me!”
— Arkansas Children's patient, recalling a previous Festival of Stars experience
“My daughter can tell you all the gifts she received. She remembers the specific times she got the gifts. That put a positive experience on something that otherwise was traumatic, some days chaotic and hard. The trauma is masked by the kindness she experienced and the toys she got to bring home.”
— Patient caregiver
In addition to holiday gifts, donations collected through Festival of Stars support:
Year-round clinical care for children at Arkansas Children’s hospitals and clinics
Adaptive care plans for children with autism
Healthy coping support provided by Child Life Specialists
Infant development programs for babies served statewide
The Gentry School District extends its appreciation to every student, family, and community member who contributed to this year’s Toy Toss. Your generosity helps bring joy and comfort to Arkansas children and their families when they need it most.