Kidzz Helping Kidzz group picture for the About page on website.

JOY, HOPE, AND CELEBRATION

Kidzz Helping Kidzz is a nonprofit organization aimed at helping bring joy, hope and celebration to children in their time of need.

Our History: A Story of Hope and Resilience

When my brother, Noah, was a baby he became very ill and needed to go to the hospital three times. It was very scary to see him hooked up to so many tubes. I decided that I wanted to help kids feel less scared in the hospital. Kids need to experience hope and joy in the hospital.

Please join us in 2024 to brighten the lives of at least 5,000 kids who will be in the hospital during the holidays.

Kidzz Helping Kidzz Timeline

2016

7-year-old Zachary Darner’s infant brother was quite ill and in the hospital on several occasions. It was then that Zachary decided to try to raise 50 new toys to give to children at St. Michael Medical Center (formerly Harrison Hospital) and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital during the Christmas Holiday. He went door to door in his neighborhood providing informational flyers to neighbors and friends about his “Kidzz Helping Kidzz” project. He set up collection boxes around town and gave presentations to his classmates at school about the project. The toy drive exceeded all expectations and he distributed 259 toys.

2017

Zachary increased his goal to raise 1,000 toys to give to children during the holidays at St. Michael Medical Center (formerly Harrison Hospital), Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. To help promote his toy collection, Zachary gave public presentations at local Rotary Clubs and schools. Zachary also met with the Mayor of Bremerton who promised to lend her support to his project. He delivered 1589 toys!

2018

Zachary set a goal to raise 5000 toys to give to children who were in the hospital during the Christmas holiday. He provided public presentations to schools, Rotary clubs and public officials. He went door to door handing out fliers to the community, and formed an Advisory Board of kids who helped him to deliver the toys. Once again, he exceeded his goal and raised 5890 toys which were given to children at St. Michael Medical Center (formerly Harrison Hospital), Seattle Children's Hospital, and Mary Bridge Children's Hospital.

2019

Zachary and the Kidzz Helping Kidzz Advisory Board hand-painted beautiful Easter boxes that were filled with over 1200 toys and given to children with Cancer at Puget Sound area hospitals on Easter. At the Christmas holiday, Zachary raised 5500 toys which were given to ill children at St. Michael Medical Center (formerly Harrison Hospital), Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Zachary and his Advisory Board of kids developed programs with the Bremerton Backpack Brigade, Coffee Oasis and Barnes & Nobel to help kids in need,

2020

Zachary and the kids who comprise our Advisory Board continued to make a difference in the lives of children in need. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we turned our focus to helping support children with challenges faced by social isolation. Our weekly “Kids Chat“ brought kids together throughout the country via Zoom and allowed them to discuss topics of interest, learn new things, and bridge a connection during difficult times.

2021

Zachary and the Kidzz Helping Kidzz Advisory Board brightened the lives of nearly 9,000 children who were in a Puget Sound area Hospital at Christmas time by delivering toys. Kidzz Helping Kidzz also continued to support children with challenges faced by social isolation due to COVID. Our weekly “Kids Chat” via Zoom allowed kids across the country to come together to discuss topics of interest, learn new things and play fun games.

2022

Zachary and Kidzz Helping Kidzz Advisory Board consisting of 14 youth, ages 10-16 delivered 7,018 toys to ill children at St. Michael Medical Center, Seattle Children's Hospital, Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, St. Anthony Hospital, and Kaiser Urgent Care. Since 2016, KHK has brightened the lives of nearly 30,000 ill children. Support continues throughout the year for kids in need by partnering with Bremerton Backpack Brigade providing food for low-income children. "Kids Chat" is a program developed to help kids came together, talk about issues of importance, and play games.

2023

Zach and the Kidzz Helping Kidzz Advisory Board delivered 11,009 toy donations to ill children at Seattle Childrens Hospital, Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, St. Michael Medical Center, St. Anthony Hospital and Kaiser Urgent Care. We have brightened the lives of over 41,000 children since our first toy drive in 2016. Support continues throughout the year for kids in need with our partnership with the Bremerton Backpack Brigade and the Central Kitsap Backpack 4 Kids programs providing food for low-income children.