Each year, we like to feature the stories of those who participated in our biggest volunteer event of the year, Have A Heart Volunteer Day. We thank everyone who lends their time, talent, and effort by helping with our arts & crafts outreach for children in medical facilities. At this event, thousands of craft kits are produced along with hundreds of decorated paper bags and cards of encouragement.
‘This is very uplifting’
Outside the giant windows circling the room, it was a dreary winter morning. Inside the activities room of Linglestown Life United Methodist Church, there was a lot of sunshine. 
Hundreds of volunteers, unfazed by the forecast of a snow-and-ice storm, were lighting up Caitlin’s Smiles’ annual Have A Heart Day.
In the middle of the action, the volunteers from Members 1st Federal Credit Union were hard at work at their tables creating cards of encouragement for our hospitalized kids. They designed teddy bears, frogs and dog faces on pre-cut construction paper and added messages to brighten the kids’ days.
Why were these professionals spending their Saturday morning at Have A Heart Day?
“I’ve done this before,” Becky Martz said. “I remembered that I liked it and what this organization does for the kids. I like going out into the community and helping others.”
Patty Young has volunteered at our Smiles Central headquarters, and this was her second year at Have A Heart.
“I had fun last year,” she said. “I love doing crafts, and this is for a good cause.”
Stacy Zellers was enjoying her first experience with Caitlin’s Smiles.
“I like to help out in the community. It’s a great cause,” Stacy said. Then, with a glance around the room, she added, “I don’t know a lot about it yet, but I’m happy to see this turnout.”
It was also the first time for Kevin Bentzel.
“I’ve heard of this organization. Uplifting. This is very uplifting,” he said. “I like working with colorful things. I like the camaraderie and how it’s bringing the community together. It’s for the kids. It’s a great thing.”
‘A fun time with friends’
The American Heritage Girls were having so much fun at Have A Heart Day that it was a challenge getting them together — and keeping them together — long enough to snap a team picture.
This was one cheerful group who were happy to be among the hundreds of volunteers who turned out despite an ominous wintry forecast and filled the activities room at Linglestown Life United Methodist Church.
“This is our third time (at Have A Heart),” said Carolyn Sargent, the leader of this local chapter of the Christian-based girls organization. “We always make sure we get signed up. This fills up quickly.
“We’re helping out sick kids, making them smile. We just like that we’re helping children.”
Carolyn’s 10-year-old daughter, Abby, was getting a chance to put her love for art into action. “I love to make things,” she said, “especially because it’s a good cause.”
Emma Clouser, a sixth-grader, echoed Abby: “I was here last year. It’s fun to make stuff for kids in hospitals. I like to do art, especially when it’s for a good reason like this.”
Her sister, Aimee, was also returning for another round for our kids. She called it “a fun time with friends to do something to hopefully make a sick child smile.”
‘This is perfect’
For the 6-year-old Witmer twins, it was an early lesson in helping others. And they weren’t shy with their thoughts about being at Have A Heart Day.
“It’s great,” Emmy said. “I get to draw.”
“I really like it,” Reese said.
The Witmers, from nearby Mechanicsburg, were creating cards of encouragement that will be given to our kids in Bags of Smiles and Coping Kits.
“We were looking for places to volunteer as a family,’ mom Gina Witmer said. “A lot of organizations don’t take kids. Our kids love crafts and helping other kids. This is perfect.”
It was dad Jordan’s first time with Caitlin’s Smiles.
“I’m just learning,” he said. “This is a nice setup for bringing the family along. The kids are big crafters. This is a great outlet for them. This is what we’ve been doing at home anyway, and now we’re here helping others.”
It was a natural
Have A Heart Day was a family affair for the Mortellitis.
Mom Kristen said it started as a search for a service project for her 14-year-old son, Lake, an eighth-grader at nearby Lower Dauphin Middle School. It ended with them among hundreds of volunteers at Caitlin’s Smiles’ annual community craft day at Linglestown Life United Methodist Church.
“This was something he could identify with,” Kristen said. “He’s artsy, and so am I. I went to college for art. This is right up our alley.”
These two artists were in a group creating cards of encouragement to be sent in Bags of Smiles to our kids in hospitals and Coping Kits to youths being treated in emergency rooms and outpatient facilities. The mother-son duo drew frog, teddy bear and dog faces on pre-cut construction paper and wrote uplifting messages.
“It’s right up my alley,” Lake echoed.
But to the Mortellitis, it was about more than that.
“Then, there’s the kids factor,” Kristen said. “It’s helping kids. I have two kids, and we’re very fortunate. I can’t imagine what it’s like for parents with a child in a hospital. We’re glad we can help in some way.”
Veterans of generosity
The table is covered with markers, colored pencils, construction paper, stencils, handcrafted cards of encouragement and artfully colored Caitlin’s Smiles mailing labels.
In addition to the five young ladies doing the creating, a lot of experience and the spirit of generosity are at work here. These artists are members of the Kits for Kids Club at Cumberland Valley High School.
“I really like the idea that we’re putting smiles on kids’ faces,” said Chris Gergis, a sophomore at CV.
Well before this Have A Heart community craft day, these students through Kits for Kids have been making craft kits, bracelets, labels and more to send to Caitlin’s Smiles and Harrisburg-area hospitals. They have also volunteered at our Smiles Central.
Sophomores Aalishbah Qureshi and Deeya Khanal said they “really enjoy” this mission.
“It’s really a cool program,” junior Allison Foster said of Caitlin’s Smiles.
Said freshman Marina Azab, “It’s really nice that we can bring smiles to these kids. It makes me smile, too.”
