Caitlin’s Smiles is hosting the 10th annual Have A Heart Volunteer Day at New Hope Church at 584 Colonial Club Road in Harrisburg on Saturday, February 4th, 2023.
One hundred volunteers have registered to participate in the 2 volunteer sessions that day. Volunteer tasks include assembling craft kits, creating cards of encouragement, and decorating paper bags. These items are all used in arts & crafts outreach to help children in medical facilities. The activities provided by Caitlin’s Smiles encourages kids to focus on being creative as well as help to boost their self-confidence and self-worth while they deal with stressful medical situations.
Volunteers who are unable to attend are encouraged to visit www.Caitlins-Smiles.Org to learn how they can volunteer at another time or to learn how they can volunteer from their homes or other off-site locations.
Since 2004, Caitlin’s Smiles has been putting smiles on the faces of children in medical facilities by encouraging them to focus on creative arts activities. Caitlin’s Smiles is a 501(c)3 founded by Cheryl Hornung, in memory of her daughter, Caitlin, who lost her battle with cancer in October 2000. Despite the tiring treatments and long hospital stays, Caitlin managed to keep a positive attitude by finding joy in creating art. She could always be found with a backpack full of arts and crafts supplies, and coloring pictures for friends, family, and hospital staff.
Caitlin’s Smiles has distributed arts & crafts activities to 2.3 million children in 170+ medical facilities in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. Locally, Caitlin’s Smiles provides arts & crafts activities to children receiving treatment at UPMC Harrisburg Hospital, Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, WellSpan York Hospital, Penn State Hampden Medical Center, UPMC West Shore, Penn State Holy Spirit Medical Center, UPMC Carlisle Hospital, UPMC Community Osteopathic Hospital, Lancaster General Hospital, and several others throughout the region.
