The Lee Anne Newkirk Foundation
Fill the Rooms
Fill the rooms with toys, joy and hope.
Why this matters
A hospital room doesn’t feel like Christmas on its own
A hospital room doesn't feel like Christmas on its own. Fill the Rooms exists to change that — collecting new, unused, unwrapped toys and gifts so hospitalized children, from infants through teenagers, still get something to unwrap that was chosen with them in mind. This is our inaugural campaign, focused on building it well in the Pensacola, Florida area before we think about growing further.
How it began
This started with one family’s Christmas
When Lee Anne Newkirk's son Evan was hospitalized one Christmas, toys donated by strangers helped make that day feel like Christmas anyway — and she spent years afterward paying that forward.
Read Lee’s full story →“Fill the rooms with toys, joy and hope.”
The Lee Anne Newkirk Foundation
Who it serves
Birth through age 18, spending Christmas in the hospital
The Lee Anne Newkirk Foundation is developing its inaugural Pensacola-area campaign and intends to coordinate with local pediatric care professionals, including those at Studer Family Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, as those conversations continue. Fill the Rooms is not yet affiliated with, or endorsed by, any hospital — we'll update this page the moment that changes.
How it works
From donation to a child’s bedside
Toys are collected
Community members and local businesses donate new, unused, unwrapped toys at collection locations as they're announced.
Fill the Rooms sorts them
Volunteers sort and organize donations by age group, so every gift matches a real child's stage of life — not just a general pile of toys.
Gaps are filled
Where donations run short in a given age group — teenagers especially — the foundation works to fill in the gaps so every child gets more than one gift to open.
Hospital-approved distribution
Gifts are delivered through a process coordinated with hospital staff, so they reach children safely and appropriately. We're building this process now, alongside our hospital conversations.
Donate toys
Every gift must be new, unused, and unwrapped
That way every child gets to unwrap something that was chosen for them. Contact us if you’d like to donate before collection locations are announced.
Collection locations coming soon
We’re building our first Christmas campaign, and collection locations will be posted here as they’re confirmed.
Interested in hosting a collection location? Let us know.
Every age counts
Birth through age 18 — teenagers included
It’s easy for toy drives to default to gifts for young kids. Fill the Rooms is built for every age in the hospital, teenagers included — these are general ideas to help you shop, not an official hospital wish list.
Infants & toddlers
Soft toys, board books, and sensory-friendly items.
Young children
Building sets, dolls, action figures, and creative play.
Preteens
Games, art supplies, and hobby kits.
Teenagers
Headphones, journals, gift cards, and things that don't feel babyish.
Volunteer
Give a few hours, change a Christmas morning
Volunteers will sort toys, staff collection locations, and help with distribution day. No experience is necessary — just a few hours and a willingness to help.
Businesses & community partners
Help us build our first Christmas campaign
Partners coming soon
This year’s business and community partners will be listed here as they join the campaign. We only name partners who’ve agreed to be featured publicly.
Want your business listed here? Become a partner.
Give financially
Money fills the gaps toys can’t
Financial gifts to Fill the Rooms are intended to fill gaps in toy donations — especially for teenagers — and to help cover the costs of running the program well, so every child receives more than a single gift. Donation infrastructure isn't finalized yet; see the Donate page for where things currently stand.
Campaign status
Where this year’s campaign stands
Toy collection opens
Date to be announced
Collection locations open for donations.
Toy collection closes
Date to be announced
Final day to donate toys for this year's campaign.
Sorting & inventory
Date to be announced
Volunteers sort donated toys by age group.
Distribution
Date to be announced
Gifts reach children through a hospital-coordinated process.
FAQ
Common questions
Who does Fill the Rooms help?
Children and teens, birth through age 18, who are spending Christmas in the hospital. Our inaugural campaign is focused on the Pensacola, Florida area.
Is Fill the Rooms officially connected with a hospital?
Not yet. We're developing our inaugural Pensacola-area campaign and intend to coordinate with local pediatric care professionals, including those at Studer Family Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, as those conversations continue. We'll share confirmed details here as soon as they're final.
What kind of toys are needed?
New, unused, unwrapped toys and gifts for children and teens, birth through 18 — including things teenagers would actually want, not just toys for younger kids. We'll share more specific guidance as our first campaign takes shape.
Can I drop off used toys?
No — we ask for new, unused, unwrapped items only, so every child receives something that feels like it was chosen just for them.
How are children chosen to receive gifts?
Distribution will be coordinated with hospital staff, so gifts reach the children who need them. We're finalizing this process alongside our hospital conversations.
Can I donate money instead of toys?
Financial gifts will help fill gaps in toy donations and cover program costs. Visit the Donate page for exactly where things stand — online giving isn't active yet.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Not yet. The Lee Anne Newkirk Foundation's nonprofit status has not been established, so we can't say donations are tax-deductible. We will not claim that until it's confirmed, and we'll update this page the moment it is.
How can my business get involved?
Businesses can host a collection location or become a community partner. Visit Get Involved — we're building these relationships now, as our first campaign comes together.