This month, we are very fortunate to be able to feature Parkland Middle School student Elijah Hillard (second from right), who has contributed more than 240 service hours for Kits to Heart! He and his mother Crystal return regularly on Saturdays to help with kit assemblies—even bringing donations of much-needed hand sanitizers, water enhancers, bamboo toothbrushes, protein bars, and ginger chews to include in our care kits! Learn more below about their experiences.
Kits to Heart: What made you interested in volunteering for Kits to Heart?
Elijah Hillard: I was looking for summer student service learning (SSL) opportunities and we came across a listing for Kits to Heart. My grandmother is a cancer survivor, so this opportunity is very meaningful to me. After meeting Sonia and hearing her story, we wanted to continue to help Kits to Heart with their mission of letting patients know that they are not alone.
KTH: What’s the most special part for you when it comes to volunteering for Kits to Heart?
EH: I enjoy creating items to be used in the kits. I also like coming to the kit assembly sessions. Knowing that our work is going to brighten someone's day encourages us to continue to volunteer.
KTH: What’s a characteristic that you believe is essential for Kits to Heart volunteers?
EH: A volunteer should be kind and compassionate about the cause. Volunteers that are compassionate often put extra care into the quality of the items they create.
KTH: How has our mission spoken to you?
EH: As I mentioned, my grandmother is a cancer survivor, so the Kits to Heart mission already resonates with my family. Sonia's story is truly touching and inspires us to want to help her cause as often as we can.
Thanks so very much, Crystal and Elijah! While kit assemblies are paused for just a little while longer, we welcome anyone interested in volunteering to check out our remote opportunities to help bring smiles to patients and caregivers.