Kidzz Helping Kidzz, a nonprofit founded by Zachary Darner at just 7 years old, continues to make a profound impact in its mission to bring joy to children in hospitals during the holiday season.

What began as a personal effort to comfort children like his younger brother, Noah, has grown into a community-driven initiative that distributed over 12,000 toys this year.

The inspiration for the organization came when Noah was hospitalized multiple times as a baby. “It was really scary,” said Zachary, now 15. “The doctors and nurses brought in toys for me and him to pick out, and I thought that was really cool. I wanted to recreate that for the community because I was interested in giving toys and joy to other kids in hospitals.”

Noah, now 9, also plays an active role in the organization. “It makes me feel good and happy knowing other kids get toys to comfort them,” said Noah, who helps with boxing and labeling toys.

The nonprofit is not only about spreading joy through toys but also about fostering leadership and collaboration among youth. The Kidzz Helping Kidzz Advisory Board, composed of children and teens, helps shape the organization’s efforts.

“We are the older kids of Kidzz Helping Kidzz,” board member Jack Derksema said. “We decide and discuss what we are doing for the year.”

Arianna Guy, one of the first advisory members, added, “It’s fun to spend time with people my age and have a community within our community that can help. It’s nice to give back to the community and connect more as kids.”

The toys distributed this year included a variety, from Legos and art supplies to stuffed animals, sports equipment and even seven tablets. “Books for kids to read at their bedside are also comforting,” said Beth Friedman, Zachary and Noah’s mother and the executive director of the organization.

The nonprofit operates from a 2,000-square-foot donated warehouse at St. Michael Medical Center, enabling volunteers to store and sort thousands of donations. Along with St. Michael, this year toys have been delivered to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Swedish Medical Center.

Beyond the holidays, Kidzz Helping Kidzz also addresses issues like food insecurity in Kitsap County, partnering with organizations to provide resources for children in need. “This is really civic leadership at its best,” Friedman said. “These kids are our future leaders. The beauty of this is that it’s a local toy drive, and we target the hospitals where any kid who needs care can benefit.”

Zachary credits the program’s success to the advisory board, volunteers and local partnerships. “The big thing about Kidzz Helping Kidzz is just kids helping other kids,” he said. “It brings us joy to help others and connect with people in our community. It’s really inspiring.”