WILLIAMSBURG — The Peck Family is once again calling out to the community to help make the holidays less stressful on those who will be spending the season in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters.
Joshua, the 10-year-old son of Matt and Christina Peck, spent Christmas of 2022 in the PICU at CHKD. Just days later, he passed away in his sleep after suffering from a rare strain of bacterial meningitis. In the short time they spent in the PICU, the Peck family was overwhelmed with donations of holiday decor and cheer that spruced up Josh’s hospital room.
They have honored Josh’s memory every year by collecting and donating holiday decor, toys and blankets; paying it forward to families who are spending Christmas at the hospital.
“Joshua loved Christmas, it was his favorite holiday — partly because he received gifts — but mostly because he loved giving gifts! He would always help us plan for teachers, neighbors and family gifts, and loved putting them together. We also always made sure to teach him and James to give back at the holidays, whether it was adopting a tag on the angel tree, participating in a food drive, or taking cookies to a nursing home. He loved being able to give,” Peck’s father Matt shared on Facebook.
For the third year, the Joshua Chamberlain Project will collect new twin-size or larger blankets, holiday decor including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and non-denominational items and toys from now through Dec. 16.
Collection sites include Orangetheory Fitness locations in Chesapeake, Williamsburg and Newport News; Anytime Fitness locations in Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Williamsburg and Richmond; the Coastal VA Real Estate Team’s office in Yorktown; Ivy Rehab for Kids locations in Newport News, Williamsburg, and Hampton; 757Swim Aquatic Center in Williamsburg; the Johnson, Gasink & Baxter LLP office in Williamsburg; Printwell Inc. in Williamsburg; Pivot PT in Williamsburg; Jersey Mike’s Subs in Williamsburg; J&J Financial Management in Williamsburg; and European Cars of Williamsburg. The full list can be found here.
The family has also set up an Amazon Wishlist for those who live outside the area who would like to donate.
To learn more about Josh and the Joshua Chamberlain Project, visit joshuachamberlainproject.com.