Caitlin's Smiles - Giving sick children laughs, hopes and smiles.

The Gift of a Smile

Bags of Smiles

Each “Bag of Smiles” contains two individual craft kits, Playdoh or Model Magic, journal, coloring/drawing materials, small toy or book, a Caitlin’s Smiles flyer and a homemade card. In order to ensure that children can fully enjoy the contents of their bags, each “Bag of Smiles” is geared towards a specific age range. For step by step instructions on how to assemble your own “Bags of Smiles” click on the link below.

Arts and Crafts Kits

Children with life threatening or chronic illnesses often spend a lot of time sitting in hospital waiting rooms and clinics. That is why in addition to putting two individual craft kits in each “Bag of Smiles”, Caitlin’s Smiles also delivers boxes full of assorted kits to children awaiting test results or getting blood transfusions. To find out what kinds of kits you can create click on the following link.

Care Kits

Our family care kits include a gas card, phone card and local restaurant gift cards. Many families with children battling these conditions are faced with frequent and/or long term stays. These care kits put a smile on the faces of the entire families! They are shared with the hospital's pediatric social workers and the local Ronald McDonald Houses to be distributed.

Homemade Cards

Homemade cards can bring smiles to the faces of children of all ages. A card is included in each "Bag of Smiles" and sometimes bulk supplies of cards are given to hospitals to deliver with the daily mail rounds. When making cards, please keep in mind the following:
Cards may be any size and shape. Card stock or constructions paper may be used.
Do not say get well soon. Many of the children are facing terminal or chronic conditions and may not get well, rather they learn to live with their condition.
Do not include any type of religious message. Our program reaches children of many different religious backgrounds.
Focus on sayings such as:
Sending Smiles (Smiley face theme)
Sending Bear Hugs (bear cut out card)
Thinking of You
Sending Warm Wishes
You're a Star (shooting stars)
You're a Champion< (sports drawing)
Children love bright, bold and silly cards.
Jokes, riddles and funny sayings are great to include.

Donate Arts and Crafts Supplies

If you are not interested in creating kits by your self you can have a hand in helping kids smile by donating arts and crafts kit materials. These materials are currently needed.
Drawing pads
Coloring or activity books
Play-Doh or Crayola Model Magic (individual sizes)
Writing journals or diaries
Bags of pony beads (any color or assorted)
Lacing for necklaces (gimp, leather, elastic, etc.)
Foam tubs of stickers, beads or activities
Ziplock bags to hold craft kits (snack & sandwich size)
Gift cards for crafts (Dollar Tree, Wal-Mart, Michaels, AC Moore, Staples, Office Max)
Family care kits gift cards (gas, phone and local restaurant)

Caitlin’s Smiles is a non-profit organization based in Harrisburg, PA that delivers arts and crafts kits to children facing chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Caitlin’s Smiles reaches children in hospitals throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Caitlin's Smiles receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. If you would like more information about how you can volunteer or make a donation to help children, please email [email protected].(A)