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

A Note From Cheryl
Happy Holidays!

With the colder temperatures and snow flurries, Caitlin’s Smiles has been in a flurry of activity. Our annual holiday party on November 20, kicked off the giving season, and a great time was had by patients, families and volunteers. Children made lots of presents for their families for the holidays. We’ve included some pictures so you can enjoy their smiles too!

With the holiday frenzy, hospitals have been calling and e-mailing to see whether we have toys and/or extra craft supplies for patients who will be in the hospital throughout the holiday season. Our volunteers have been busy boxing up extra supplies and ma

king deliveries to area hospitals. Our office/warehouse looks like Santa’s workshop as Barbies and HotWheels, in addition to Bags of Smiles, are boxed and piled to be delivered.

Play-Doh continues to trickle in, and we have collected well over 8,500 cans since our Play-Doh drive began in October with our Saturday Smiles event. Thanks to all of you who have donated!

As we were filling an order yesterday for York Hospital, we realized we were down to our last case of coloring books. Please consider doing a craft drive for us over the holidays at your work or family get-together. Children appreciate their Bags of Smiles year round – not just over the holidays!

Current Fundraisers and Donation Drives
Save Around Harrisburg 2011 coupon books, $20. Coupons for local restaurants, service/retail stores and entertainment, such as Papa John’s, ABC Lanes, Friendly’s, Jiffy Lube and many more. (Both East/West Shores.) Call Smiles Central at 717-412-4759 or e-mail to office.caitlinssmiles@comcast.net to order your coupon book by December 13 – we will have them for you by Christmas.

Borders bookstores in Harrisburg, Reading and Springfield Mall’s are hosting a book drive for Caitlin’s Smiles this month. Purchase a children or teen’s book at a participating store and the store will get it to us! We especially need books for teens.

Wolf Furniture – Check out the craft drive information and video on the Wolf’s Furniture and Caitlin’s Smiles’ websites.

Save the Date! Caitlin’s Smiles will once again participate in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community on Saturday, May 21, 2011!

Thank You's For This Month
Below are two special thank you's we received last month.

I made the deliveries yesterday and was ever so gratefully received. The young women at the Penn State Specialty Clinic fell all over themselves to say thanks. They tell me that they always give out the craft kits when children have to wait for the doctor and that it is the best medicine for anxiety. Your Parent Magazine article is on display in their waiting room. Nancy Orwich, child life specialist at York Hospital, beamed a big smile.
Just thought you want to know.

-Pastor Anne

Thank you for the activity bags that you donate to local hospitals. My 10-year old daughter had her second open-heart surgery at University of Maryland Hospital last week and she received one of your bags full of activities. As a parent, I appreciate the efforts you put into making my child's stay in the hospital a little more exciting. God bless you for all that you do!

-Jennifer, Havre de Grace, MD

Volunteer Opportunities
Office clerical help needed at Smiles Central, Harrisburg – once or twice a week to answer phones, open mail, light clerical work– 4 hours a day. You choose the day!

Help to manage our eBay store and Craigslist files here in the office at Smiles Central. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, between 10 am and 2 pm. Needed once or twice a month.