Cole’s Closet was created in 2002 by Ellen and Steve Tomczyk after they lost their six-month old son to an undiagnosed disease. The Tomczyk’s spent four months in and out of area hospitals. They witnessed first hand the anxiety and fear families face when a child is hospitalized.

Ellen and Steve wanted to do something to ease their own pain and to help other families in similar situations. They began with a toy drive at a family holiday party one year after Cole passed away. Since then they have donated over 16,000 new toys to area hospitals. The toys are distributed throughout the year to special children like Cole and their siblings.

"Closets” filled with toys are currently putting smiles on children’s faces at:

Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children (IFHC)

Inova Fair Oaks

Virginia Hospital Center

Shady Grove Adventist Hospital

Inova Loudoun Hospital

Georgetown University Hospital Center

Potomac Hospital

Toy Drop Off Locations:

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