A Staten Island charity is closing in on its $500,000 goal to build a pediatric emergency room at Staten Island University Hospital, but they need more help to reach that goal.

ECHO, or the Emergency Children's Help Organization, needs $77,000 more to reach their target amount. 

Members of ECHO say the current emergency room will be divided, giving half the space to the kids. 

Organizers say the emergency room can be a scary place for kids.

"It would be nice if they had an individual section just for children where they would be a little, feel a little more comfortable there. It's bad enough as it is," said Sebastian Angelico, chairman of ECHO.

"Currently, the emergency center on the south side, I believe handles roughly about 5,000 children. We think that we could get it to over 7,500 per year," said Pasquale Loporcaro, executive director of ECHO.

The upgrade will cost about $1.6 million in total and is set to be completed next year. 

For more information, visit www.echoorganization.org