In March 2020, just as the world shut down, our world turned upside down when Colby was diagnosed with lymphoma. In the midst of isolation and uncertainty, our family experienced incredible generosity from friends, neighbors, and our community. Yet we also saw firsthand how many families were struggling under the emotional and financial weight of a childhood cancer diagnosis.

During Colby’s treatment at Mass General Hospital for Children, he and his sister Avery wanted to give back. What began as a simple act of kindness—delivering toys to the pediatric hematology/oncology clinic—quickly grew into something much bigger.

That December, we put out a call to our community and were overwhelmed by the response: nearly 1,000 toys were collected for children in treatment. That first effort became Operation Colby Claus.

Since then, Operation Colby Claus has grown from a toy drive into a holiday mission of hope and support. Today, we focus on fulfilling wish lists for families facing the greatest financial hardship, bringing comfort, joy, and a sense of normalcy during the toughest of times. To date, we have fulfilled the wishlists of over 70 children. 

What started as one boy’s wish to give back has become a community movement—proving that kindness, even in the darkest moments, can light the way.