StoryCorps at SHC: Julie Gunderson & Stephanie Chamberlain

Julie Gunderson (JG): Toy Drive was started many years ago. Susan Cabral was in charge and she set up a enterprise-wide Toy Drive to benefit our Palo Alto Community Center and their program for supporting the kids in need in our community. Susan had worked with us for 40 years and she passed on a lot of her knowledge to me. And every year when I do the Toy Drive, I reach out to my best elf, Stephanie, and ask for help. And Stephanie is by far my most enthusiastic and most wonderful supporter. So Stephanie, how did you get involved in the Toy Drive to start with?

Stephanie Chamberlain (SC): What happened was quite a few years back, we received the toy bin and we received the bin for the Canned Food Drive. I saw the bins and we weren't really filling them, so we said, "Well, why isn't anyone donating? Come on people, let's get moving." So we just started getting the team members involved, encouraging everyone to give. And we got so much joy out of it that we just kept doing it every year.

JG: So you were the spark plug and you started it in one location and now the enterprise is so big, there's a lot of locations, right?

SC: Right. So this year we have five locations within supply chain where we set up little bins and then of course we set goals for ourselves. So this year our goal was 150 toys, we exceeded that. So I told my team, "Get ready, next year it's 200 toys. I know you can do it. Dig deep."

JG: Yeah, because we filled up your car to the top, you probably couldn't even see out of any of your side mirrors even, it was so full. And then we filled up my truck.

SC: Well, that's when I told you, "Drive slow. Don't go through any yellow lights because I can't see. Straight ahead now, straight ahead." But yeah, when we backed up and unloaded the toys, that was a wonderful moment.

JG: Yes.

SC: It brings joy to both of our hearts, really it does. There's so many loving hearts out there. And now that many of us are remote, we just need to keep the fire going, reach out to the team members to help us get the toys where we need to go.

JG: I think right before COVID we had 20 locations. We've got a goal to expand it and get back again. Everybody seems to be really ready, willing and able to help, which I think is just marvelous.

SC: Yeah, I agree.

JG: And the best part's been, it's really nice working with you, Stephanie.

SC: Julie, I absolutely look forward to working with you every single year. You are awesome to work with, you're fantastic and I think we make a dynamo team, girl.

JG: Yeah. I'll keep the red truck polished up.

SC: And I'll get my little Ford Edge ready to rock and roll too.

Produced by Stanford Health Care with interviews recorded in collaboration with StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to preserve and share humanity's stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world www.storycorps.org

Sound Editor: Emily Hsiao

We use a transcription service, and though we do check for accuracy, there may be errors. Please contact us if you have any questions.