Sandra Lee partners with St. Jude for the holidays

The holiday season is about giving – but there are many children who need more than just toys.

Actress Marlo Thomas has been devoted to helping children through her work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and this year, Food Network star Sandra Lee is pitching in, too.

“After I visited St. Jude in Memphis, I wrote a column about them in my magazine,” Lee said. “And I really got into the detail on how the hospital works, and how the families are treated, and how the kids are treated – and what it must be like to go through that.”

When Lee’s line launched at K-Mart, the company asked her to help them come up with a new ornament for St. Jude’s, which has partnered with 60 retail companies to kick off its annual “Thanks and Giving” campaign this past November.

To date, these efforts have raised more than $312 million. And, that money helps in a big way.

“The donations mean greater health care because St. Jude (doesn’t) charge you, even if you don’t have insurance,” said Nakesia Shephard, whose 11-year-old son, Keshaun, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2011. “We had no health insurance, (but) they didn’t turn us away, and we’re so grateful for that.”

Keshaun is now in remission and feeling great, he told FoxNews.com.

Lee sent the Shepards on a shopping spree at a New York City K-Mart. They will bring gifts back to sick kids at St. Jude’s.

“I can’t wait to get back and see the joy on the kid’s faces when they see the great gifts,” Shepard said.

They will bring gifts back to sick kids at St. Jude’s.

Keshaun even agreed to dress up as Santa Claus when they hand out the presents, which he thinks will be “pretty fun.”

If you want to get involved, look for the St. Jude logo when you are shopping. Then, you can make a donation at the store’s register or purchase special items, like the St. Jude bear ornament ($5).

You can also make a donation by visiting StJude.org