A group from the 2019 Leadership Centre County (LCC) class is teaming up with The Jared Box Project to collect donations for children at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
Mike McAndrew, SVP, District Manager, Northwest Bank; Cindy Kolarik, Executive Director, The Jared Box Project; Brad Stone, Employee Benefits Consultant, Northwest Bank.
Press Release – The Jared Box Project was started in 2001 by the children at Our Lady of Victory School in State College to honor their classmate and friend, Jared, who courageously battled cancer. At five years old, Jared carried a backpack full of toys to all of his appointments and shared them with the other children.
Unfortunately, Jared’s battle ended in Nov. 2000, but his legacy continues today. A “Jared Box” is a plastic storage box filled with small gifts, toys, games, and fun activities that provide a special diversion for young patients in emergency rooms, patient rooms, surgical centers, and clinics as they receive chemotherapy and other medical treatments.
Over 450,000 Jared Boxes have been delivered across the United States, and one Leadership Centre County group plans to make this number even larger by supporting the children in their local hospital.
The LCC group will be set up at various events throughout the county to collect both monetary donations and items for the Jared Boxes. Suggested items include: crayons, coloring books, books, stickers, silly putty, card games, stuffed animals, puzzles, etc. No used toys or food items will be accepted. All toys need to be able to fit inside a plastic shoebox.
Please see below for a list of events that will benefit The Jared Box Project:
- On Wed., March 20, Centre Crest (502 E. Howard St., Bellefonte) will be hosting a meal for residents and community members. The meal consists of chicken fingers, French fries, a cookie, and a drink for $5. All proceeds will benefit The Jared Box Project. Meal times are from 10:30 am-1 pm, 4:30-7 pm, and 12-1 am.
- On Wed., March 27, The Greek (102 E. Clinton Ave., State College) is offering 20% of the evening’s proceeds to The Jared Box Project.
- On Sat., April 20 from 1-3 pm, a collection site will be set up at Centre Region Parks & Recreation’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Oak Hall Regional Park, 120 Linden Hall Rd., Boalsburg.
- On Sun., April 28 from 2-5 pm, a collection site will be set up at Centre Region Parks & Recreation’s Earth Day Birthday celebration at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, 548 Puddintown Rd., State College.
Items for the Jared Boxes will be collected throughout the month of March at the following drop-off locations:
- Centre Crest (502 E. Howard St., Bellefonte)
- Centre Foundation (1377 Ridge Master Dr., State College)
- Centre Region Parks & Recreation (2643 Gateway Dr., State College)
- Centre Crest (502 E. Howard St., Bellefonte)
- Easterseals (383 Rolling Ridge Dr., State College)
- Leadership Centre County (1300 N. Atherton St.)
- Northwest Bank (1767 N. Atherton St., State College)
- Penn State Findlay Commons Desk (133 Johnston Commons, University Park)
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