Candy Cane Lane Toy Drive
Many families with a childhood cancer diagnosis face financial burdens from costly treatment, job insecurity, and other unexpected expenses. Every December, Candlelighters anonymously matches gift sponsors with families to provide presents for local families facing childhood cancer. In 2025, Candlelighters was able to provide gifts for 48 families in need, helping make the holiday season a little brighter.
Are you interested in sponsoring a family/families during our 2026 Candy Cane Lane toy drive? Please fill out the application to be added to our Candy Cane Lane sponsor list:
2026 Candy Cane Lane Timeline:
11/2: Deadline to apply to be a sponsor
11/16: A member of the Candlelighters team will contact sponsors and send the wishlists of the family/families you have been matched with. Family names will remain anonymous.
12/7, 12/8 and 12/9: Gift dropoff period at the Candlelighters office
In-Hospital Programs
Each of our Amazon wishlists supply our essential in-hospital programs for families. Explore descriptions of these specific programs and how they support families on our In-Hospital Programs page.
Read what our families have to say about these programs!
“Our son still has his Candlelighters bedside buddy Pengali the penguin. He got Pengali when he was 22 months, today he is 14. Pengali is one of three stuffed animals still on his bed. Bedside Buddies will always be a part of our cancer journey.”
“Every time my son was admitted for treatment, sickness, infection, etc., there was a new snuggly bedside buddy waiting for him when he entered his room. It is the small things that make the most impact.”
“When our daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, Candlelighters had brought dinner to our floor and the volunteers were so genuinely interested not only in our story, but who we were before our story of cancer began. It was exactly the light we needed to be shone on our lives.”
“This food pantry saved me as I could not leave my daughter’s side for more than a minute. You sometimes don’t feel like eating until you are ready to collapse. Instead of waiting hours for a tray to be delivered, the food pantry was just enough to keep me going.”