During the holiday season, PetSmart on Derry Street, Harrisburg collected donations of their special holiday plush animals for the kids served by Caitlin’s Smiles. Charitable customers chose from a variety of plush pets including a dog, cat, hamster, unicorn and a lizard.
These were perfect for our outreach because kids love plush animals. They are a great comfort item for a child in an emergency department or hospital room. Once the items were purchased at the store, volunteers collected them and delivered them to Smiles Central. Once at Smiles Central, arrangements were made for more volunteers to deliver the plushies to kids in area hospitals. Medical facilities served include Harrisburg Hospital, West Shore Hospital, Holy Spirit Hospital, Carlisle Hospital, Hanover Hospital, Gettysburg Hospital, UPMC Community Osteopathic Hospital, York WellSpan Hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital – Pottsville, Penn State Children’s Heart Group, UPMC Children’s Resource Center, and Penn State Hampden Medical Center.
Thanks to PetSmart, their customers, our delivery elves, and hospital staff members who all helped in getting these fun plushies to the children in medical facilities!
