Caitlin’s Smiles will hold a combination volunteer day and fundraiser on Saturday, February 7, 2015 from 10 am to 4 pm at New Hope Church, 584 Colonial Club Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112.
“We could not function without the dedication of our wonderful volunteers! This is a great opportunity for people to help us bring smiles to hospitalized children!” commented Cheryl Hornung, founder and director of Caitlin’s Smiles. Hornung started the organization in 2004 in memory of her seven-year-old daughter who lost her 3-year battle with cancer in 2000. “Caitlin would have loved what we are doing.”
Volunteers will make craft kits, cheery greeting cards or decorate gift bags to “bring smiles” to children with chronic or life-threatening conditions in hospitals and clinics in the Mid-Atlantic Region. These goodies are included in the “Bags of Smiles” sent by Caitlin’s Smiles to nearly 100 healthcare facilities. In 2014, 12,000 Bags of Smiles were distributed in Pennsylvania and eight other states.
A craft fair, soup sale, bake sale, and blood drive will run during the volunteer day. Craft fair products will include essential oils, heating bags, books, purses, nail coverings, bakeware, foods, candles, soaps and jewelry, plus more.
People wishing to volunteer should register by calling or emailing Caitlin’s Smiles at 717-412-4759 or office.caitlinssmiles@comcast.net. Craft sessions will run in 2-hour periods from 10 am to noon, noon to 2 pm and 2 to 4 pm. Prizes will be raffled throughout the day.
The cost of admission is one craft item. Suggested crafts include: coloring books, pony beads, plastic lacing (gimp), PLAY-DOH, activity books (Sudoku, crosswords, word searches, etc.), chenille stems or zip-locking baggies (sandwich/snack).
