Being sick enough to stay in the hospital for a whole weekend is not fun, but having no toys is adding insult to injury.

Earlier this month, 9-year-old Paetyn Tripp spent a few toyless days and nights at Boston’s Children’s Hospital with a staph infection in her finger.

The experience left her wanting to help other children in the same situation.

After she was released, Paetyn begged her mom, Maeghan, to buy some toys to give children in the hospital.

“I wanted to donate toys so the kids would have something to play with,” said Paetyn.

Now, what started as a shopping trip with her mom has turned into a multi-town toy drive.

Paetyn, a third grader at Sippican School, wasn’t satisfied with a single box of toys and wanted to donate more. Maeghan, who owns the Marion children and maternity boutique 5 Ducklings, offered to put a box in her shop to collect donations.

Labeled Paetyn’s Fun Box Toy Drive, the idea caught on quickly. Maeghan set up a Facebook page for the drive and several businesses in town requested boxes.

Paetyn’s grandfather, who owns a moving company, began asking his customers’ to put a box in their businesses.

“My papa, he is all over Fall River,” said Paetyn.

In fact, he has placed boxes in businesses from New Bedford to Rhode Island.

“He was on a mission,” said Maeghan. “People were calling him and calling me.”

Paetyn and a few of her friends also spoke at the last all school assembly, explaining the toy drive and asking students to bring in items.

More than a dozen banks, restaurants, athletic centers and schools are collecting toys.

There will also be a fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse in North Dartmouth on Monday night.

Paetyn’s goal now is to supply each wing of the Children’s Hospital with two boxes, totaling around 12. That number has now grown to include a few boxes for Hasbro Children’s Hospital and one each for local hospitals along the South Coast.

The outpouring of support surprised Paetyn and her mom.

“She’s gotten a lot of great feedback,” said Maeghan. “I think a lot of people like it because we’re asking for simple stuff, the dollar items. The nurses only get a cart. It can’t be big items.”

Coloring books, paint sets and other inexpensive items are welcome as well as movies for kids to watch. All items must be new. Maeghan hopes to use the proceeds from the Texas Roadhouse fundraiser to purchase PlayStation games and other pricier items.

The donations will be collected until the end of January after which the Tripps will deliver them to the hospitals. Toys going to Boston Children's Hospital will go through Child Life Services. Paetyn has asked that the toys be designated for kids staying overnight on a weekend like she did.

Marion donation locations are 5 Ducklings, Adagio, Pilgrim Bank and Children’s Academy. For a complete list, visit Facebook page “Paetyn’s Fun Boxes” or email paetynsfunbox@gmail.com.