Sharing Smiles!
Help AAA Cares support Caitlin's Smiles.
AAA Cares Supports Caitlin’s Smiles
The mission of Caitlin’s Smiles is simple; share smiles and laughter with children facing chronic or life-threatening illnesses. The organization distributes arts and crafts kits to hospitals, giving kids an outlet for creativity and the means to heightened feelings of self-worth.
The organization was founded in 2004 after a Harrisburg-based family lost their daughter Caitlin Hornung. Since its founding, the organization has provided more than 1.9 MILLION craft kits to kids in hospitals throughout Central PA and the Mid-Atlantic.
Each year, AAA Central Penn provides materials to assemble 5,000 Coping Kits and we need your help! Throughout the month of February 2024, stop by any AAA Central Penn branch to help assemble Coping Kits for children staying at local hospitals. See below on other ways you can help.
You can learn more about this wonderful organization and its impact at www.caitlins-smiles.org.
Help Give Sick Children Laughs, Hopes and Smiles!
Coping Kits can bring smiles to the faces of children of all ages. Each Coping Kit has a hand-made card, a craft, a toy, a journal, stickers, crayons, and other fun activities. The Coping Kits are supplied to your local hospital to deliver with the daily mail rounds.
How you can help:
- Stop by any AAA Central Penn branch from February 1 - 29 to help assemble Coping Kits.
- Support AAA Cares at the Highmark Walk in May 2024. Keep an eye out for details to join the team or donate. See details below about our One Team!
- Provide hand-made cards all year long to use in Coping Kits. See details below to Spark Your Creativity!
- Donate $$ directly at www.caitlins-smiles.org.
Spark your Creativity!
Not sure what to say? The possibilities are endless! Get creative, have fun and know your card will light up a child’s day. Children love bright, bold and silly cards. Jokes, riddles and funny sayings are great to include! Consider using some of the following tried and true well wishes!
- Thinking of You
- Sending Warm Wishes
- Sending Smiles (Smiley face theme)
- Sending Bear Hugs (Cutting card into the shape of a bear head)
- Hang in There (with images of monkeys or sloths)
- You’re a Star (shooting star theme)
- You’re a Champion (sports theme)
Completed cards may be dropped off at any AAA Central Penn branch during business hours to be added to a Caitlin’s Smiles Coping Kit. Your Homemade Cards will be delivered along with our Coping Kits at a local hospital to be shared with sick or injured children.
Questions? AAACares@aaacp.com
One Team
For two years in a row, AAA Central Penn has supported Caitlin's Smiles at the annual Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community.
In 2022 we raised $450 and in 2023 we raised $625!
Stay tuned for more information on how you can help us raise more in 2024!
2022 Walk Team
2023 Walk Team
