The Wilkes University Education Club held a fundraiser  to send care packages to children ages 2-11 who are at the  Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The boxes help to give well wishes this holiday season.

The club had set a goal to raise $500 to make 50 boxes but exceeded, raising $550 and creating 75 boxes.

The care packages, known as The Jared Box, are plastic storage bins filled with small toys and games for a specific age and sex. The boxes serve as a diversion for young patients who find themselves in the hospital receiving medical treatment like chemotherapy. Within the club’s care packages, they included reading books, activity books, flash cards, puzzles, art supplies, toys, etc.

According to the organization’s website, more than 200,000 Jared Boxes have been delivered across the country.

The Education Club raised the funds by selling “Home is Where the Heart Is” long sleeve shirts.

Karissa Hensel, the Education Club’s vice president who is also a junior early childhood with a special education certificate explained that the club was looking forward to working with the Jared Box Project and hopes to do so again.

“When you look at the faces of these kids in the hospitals, then seeing the joy it brings them when receiving the boxes, we knew we wanted to bring that joy,” Hensel said.

The Education Club is still working on fundraisers such as Wilkes Tumblers which they are they still selling. They will also be participating in Relay for Life.

They will also be volunteering at the university Christmas party to watch the faculty and staff’s children during the evening.

For information on how to join the Education Club, contact Karissa Hensel or Theresa Kloeker.