Editor’s Note: Additional reporting on this story was provided by Kaylie Perez.

The leaves continue to fall and change color during December in Texas. As families prepare to hang their Christmas lights and make homemade delicacies, one adolescent stands out in particular. He collaborates with his church to prepare boxes of gifts to deliver to the hospital storage room. The cardboard cubes fill up with more toys as the holiday season progresses, sitting still until they’re transported into a U-Haul and other vehicles to hospitals, primarily Scottish Rite. 

It brings joy to children’s faces as they receive these generous donations. But for senior Blake Travis, it brings him and his family gratitude during the holiday season, being an annual tradition for the family.

Facing 40 surgeries and procedures during his first four years of life due to Stickler syndrome, Blake wanted to start a toy drive to impact the lives of children who are in the same situation as he was. 

”I was 7 years old when I started,” Blake said. “With the life I grew up with and the childhood I had, I didn’t want Santa to give me any toys. I wanted him to donate them to the children in hospitals.”

Blake’s personal experiences staying in hospitals is what motivated him to start the toy drive. 

“When you’re young and staying overnight in hospitals, it [doesn’t] feel great sometimes,” Blake said. “So, I collect [toys] to raise [children’s’] spirits [and] make them feel more at peace and [stay] calm overnight.”

For his father, Jonathan Travis, bittersweet emotion was his first response when Blake came to him about wanting to start a toy drive. But through the years, it has given him and his family a shift in attitude and use of space in their home. 

“Initially, it was shocking that his first response was to help other kids be happy,” Jonathan said. “It turned to pride that his first response was to help others first. We have stood behind him and have provided any financial and emotional support that he has needed – and allowed any empty space in the house to be used for storage.”

But to his mother Angela, it gives her joy knowing what her son does has an impact in the lives of others. 

“One year we witnessed a family come in,” Angela said. “They had little ones around 3 to 6 years old. As soon as they walked in, a volunteer asked [them] to pick out a toy [from the delivery]. The little guys were excited, but the look on the mom’s face was one of pure joy [knowing] that [they] would be comforted. Having been in her shoes many years before, I could relate, [which] solidified what Blake does is impactful.”

With the success Blake has received organizing the toy drive, it has been a significant part of his life – a tradition he hopes to continue after graduation. This holiday season will mark the 10th year since Blake first started this tradition. After all his years preparing donations, the one emotion that stands out to him is pride.

“The feeling I get is a sense of accomplishment knowing I managed to make at least one person happy by collecting,” Blake said. “Knowing what we collect and [who] it goes toward – people get a sense of accomplishment from that.”