Kaylee's Light Foundation Toy Drive

Melissa Mitchell
Jun 17
4 min read

Header graphic for The Art of Island Life blog featuring Melissa Mitchell’s name, Padre Island Art Gallery, and a soft brushstroke design in coastal colors

June 17, 2026

Last year, we were honored to participate in the toy drive for Kaylee's Light Foundation.

It has been inspiring to watch this mission grow and bring together so many people throughout our community. Together, they donated 1,341 toys.

What began as one family's way of celebrating Kaylee's life has become something much larger—a community coming together to bring comfort, joy, and hope to children and teens receiving care at Driscoll Children's Hospital.

Community members, friends, and family gather at Driscoll Children's Hospital after donating toys through Kaylee's Light Foundation.

After losing their daughter, Kaylee's family wanted to find a way to continue sharing the joy she brought to others.

They kept coming back to one simple thing that always made Kaylee smile.

Toys.

Kaylee rarely went anywhere without one in her hand. They brought her comfort, happiness, and a sense of security.

It seems fitting that something so simple—and so important to Kaylee—would become the inspiration behind a mission that now brings comfort and joy to so many others.

From that simple idea, Kaylee's Light Foundation was born.

Today, the foundation's mission reaches far beyond one family. It supports individuals and families facing medical challenges, raises awareness about epilepsy and SUDEP, and hosts its annual toy drive benefiting children and teens receiving care at Driscoll Children's Hospital.

Kaylee Culvahouse was born with a rare genetic condition called 1p36 Deletion Syndrome and lived with epilepsy, developmental disabilities, and heart conditions that required lifelong care.

Despite the challenges she faced, Kaylee had a joyful spirit and an incredible ability to bring happiness to those around her.

She taught her family to slow down, appreciate the simple moments, and find joy in everyday life.

Kaylee's family walking together along a boardwalk.

In March 2024, Kaylee unexpectedly passed away at the age of 15 from SUDEP, or Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, a condition her family had never heard of.

Part of the foundation's mission is helping raise awareness so that other individuals and families have access to information that Kaylee's family wished they had known.

More Than a Toy Drive

Every toy represents more than a gift.

It represents a moment of comfort, distraction, hope, and happiness for a child or teen during a difficult day.

Those receiving medical care often face long days filled with appointments, procedures, treatments, and time away from friends, family, and the activities they enjoy.

A toy, game, craft, book, or gift card can provide comfort, distraction, and something to look forward to during an otherwise difficult day.

This toy drive serves children of all ages—from infants to teenagers—because every child deserves to feel remembered.

Teens are often overlooked during toy drives, which makes their inclusion especially meaningful.

What means the most to Kaylee's family is watching their community come together to help children and families they may never meet.

Every donation becomes a reminder that people care.

Cross display honoring Kaylee and the mission behind Kaylee's Light Foundation.

Last year, two of the children who received toys held special significance for the family. One was a student at the same school Kaylee attended, and another was a little girl with the same rare genetic condition.

Parents have also reached out to share how much a toy meant to their child during a hospital stay and how touched they were to learn about Kaylee's story.

Those messages serve as a reminder that this toy drive is about much more than collecting toys.

A Ripple Effect of Kindness

One of the most beautiful things to emerge from Kaylee's Light Foundation is watching children help other children.

Recently, a young boy named Nate and his two younger brothers set a personal goal of collecting 125 toys for the drive. They organized a lemonade stand and worked hard to help children they have never even met.

Another special example comes from Kaylee's brother Colton's baseball team.

Most of these children never knew Kaylee, yet they have embraced her story and chosen to honor her through acts of kindness.

Watching young people collect toys, spread the word, and support one another has become one of the foundation's greatest gifts.

For Kaylee's mom, these moments are especially meaningful because they are a reminder that Kaylee's impact did not end with her life.

Kaylee and her mother sharing a joyful moment together.

Seeing children who never met her choose kindness, generosity, and service because of her story gives her family hope and reassurance that her legacy continues to live on.

This year, Kaylee's Light Foundation hopes to collect 2,000 toys in honor of what would have been Kaylee's 18th birthday.

But beyond the number itself, the goal is much simpler.

To help every child and teen receiving care at Driscoll Children's Hospital experience a moment of comfort, joy, and encouragement.

And to remind families that their community cares.

Because if Kaylee's story inspires someone to help another person in need, then her light continues to shine.

If you'd like to support this year's toy drive, donations can be made by dropping off new items at participating collection sites throughout the Coastal Bend, or through Kaylee's Light Foundation's Venmo account by purchasing items directly from their Amazon Wish List.