The Jared Box Project
The Jared Box Project is on a mission to bring smiles and joy to children in hospitals. Please consider sharing our compelling story with your audience. One little kindergartener named Jared sparked a wave of kindness that spread across the country. Jared’s inspiration has lifted the spirits of over 980,000 children in hospitals in all 50 states. His story has compelled thousands of people, organizations, businesses, etc. to bring smiles to children in hospitals across the United States. Here is the touching story behind The Jared Box Project. When 6 year old Jared McMullin lost his battle with brain cancer, his friends and neighbors wanted to do something to honor a boy who battles cancer with determination and grace. Jared was outgoing, wise beyond his years, and cared for others. He carried a backpack with toys to the hospital, where he made many visits for chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He noticed that other children in the unit were scared, sad, or bored and shared his toys with them, inviting them to join him in a game of UNO or Old Maid. Jared lost his battle to cancer, but his inspiration lives on through the kindness of others. In memory of a little boy, the Jared Box Project was born. We picked up where Jared left off. We are sharing toys with children in the hospital. Thousands of people have come together to create boxes filled with the "gift of play" that are given to young patients in emergency rooms, hospital rooms, surgical centers, and clinics; thus Jared’s legacy lives on. A Jared Box is a plastic, shoe box sized container, filled with new small toys, books, drawing and coloring activities, and games. Jared Boxes are available in hospital pediatric units, emergency rooms, and other treatment facilities for children who are receiving treatments. What makes The Jared Box Project so incredible is that the efforts stay local. Community groups, Scout Troops, sports teams and other organizations build Jared Boxes and deliver them straight to their local hospitals. The Jared Box Project is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization on a mission to lift the spirits of children in the hospital. Our website provides instructions and suggestions to help organizations build boxes for the ill or injured infants and toddlers, school-aged children and teenagers who live in their community. Inside each box is a card that shares Jared’s story and the mission of the Jared Box Project. Thousands of medical staff, parents and children have shared pictures and thank you notes, with stories of how the Jared Box made a difference in the life of a sick child. One little boy’s inspiration will soon result in over a million smiles! We would love it if you were able to spread the word about our organization, as bringing smiles to people is a universal goal. Please consider sharing this incredible story with your audience. To learn more about The Jared Box, go www.thejaredbox.org or contact Cindy Kolarik, the Executive Director, at @cindy@thejaredbox.org.