SOMERS POINT — A local family continues to do good deeds in honor of their son, this year collecting and distributing more than 2,800 toys through the fifth annual Wyatt Hopkins Blue Christmas Toy Drive.
“We had 60 collection bins spread out all over South Jersey and into Philadelphia,” said Rob Hopkins, who with his wife, Desiree, and son Cash started the Wyatt Strong Foundation following their son’s death Halloween night 2017 of myocarditis.
The 4-year-old had been out trick or treating just a few hours before he died, according to his mother. Later that night she found him unresponsive; paramedics were unable to revive him just a few days before his fifth birthday.
Hopkins, 38, and Desiree, 39, now work to keep their son’s memory alive through fundraising events held throughout the year.
“We start collecting every year on Wyatt’s birthday (Nov. 8) and collect into the second week of December,” Hopkins said. “Desiree then works very hard in the final days to count, separate and organize everything based on toy type, age range and where it’s going.”
Hopkins said this year they distributed toys to local children in foster care through Court Appointed Special Advocates of Atlantic & Cape May County, to more than 20 separate local families in need and Virtua Pediatric Mobile Services.
“This year the bulk of the toys we loaded up and delivered to the DuPont Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Del.,” Hopkins said. “In addition to all of the collection locations, we thank and appreciate everyone who donated toys, volunteered their time and helped behind the scenes to make it all possible.”
Hopkins said the fifth annual event was significant.
“It was a big year this year because Wyatt would have been 10,” Hopkins said, noting they have five years of memories with their son and now five without. “It was extra emotional all year leading up to it. We’ve been trying to keep his memory alive for five years.”
Hopkins said the idea for a toy drive formed in 2018 as a way to mark the first anniversary of Wyatt passing and it was a surprising success. He said they didn’t know what to expect but it certainly wasn’t what they got.
“We realized we had something bigger than a one-year event and if we were going to continue we should formalize it,” he said, noting they formed the Wyatt Strong Foundation in 2019.
Hopkins said the effort keeps growing year after year.
“We keep getting more people to sign up for locations and that turns into more toys collected,” he said.
They like to benefit local families as well as children’s facilities that have a toy room, hoping to make the most impact by brightening the day for more children.
He said they support 20 families in and around Somers Point, getting recommendations from the police department, schools and other agencies. They also donated about 500 toys this year to CASA for children in foster care, as well as for the pediatric mobile service, an RV that travels the streets of Camden distributing toys.
Hopkins said a lot of the agencies with which they work noted they were lacking in donations this year.
He said DuPont Nemours staff were afraid they were going to have a light year until receiving their donation.
“They were very grateful for sure,” Hopkins said.
He said they continue the effort as a way to keep Wyatt’s memory alive but also to “make other kids smile on Christmas, especially those in children’s hospitals, those who do not have great home and kids of parents who just can’t do everything. Deserving people are deserving for sure.”
Wyatt had spent a week at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, where the couple became acquainted with toy rooms. He said they spent only a week at the facility but noted many families spend much longer there and the highlight of the day for the kids often is play time.
He said they inquired where the toys came from and learned they were all donated, which led to the toy drive idea after Wyatt passed.
They also sell bracelets, stickers and clothing featuring the Wyatt Strong Foundation logo to raise money for the toy drive. Find out more at OldSoulWyatt.org.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff