SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Student volunteers at South Brunswick High School (SBHS) are once again bringing color into the lives of children being treated at a local hospital.
“In our world today, children are limited in the ways they are able to express themselves. Art is one of the few options that has held throughout the generations. It is a simple way children can be boundlessly creative and produce something they are proud of. The best part is, giving children this opportunity can be as easy as providing them with just a few crayons and a sheet of paper,” student Sabrina Ray said.
Art teachers Cassandra Stedina and Laurie Budhu are the school advisors for the third annual Krayons for Kids initiative that will benefit the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick.
“This hospital helps families and children through the toughest times in their lives. In the process, one of their many goals is to make the hospitalization experience as welcoming and enjoyable to the children as possible. Studies show that even a simple distraction from a stressful situation can improve the overall health and attitude of a child.
“Art is a powerful tool that allows children to communicate and develop. Using coloring books and crayons during hospitalization enables children to remember what it is like to just be a kid and enjoy every moment. The donations we receive will help children at RWJUH more than we could ever imagine. Any amount of donation makes a difference, so we are grateful for each and every one. They will put smiles on the faces of children who need it and help to make their experience at Robert Wood as positive as possible.
“At SBHS, we encourage creation in our everyday activities, by designing bulletin boards, posters, homecoming floats and more. The volunteers, therefore, want to help the hospital in its mission, so we did this by creating the Krayons for Kids fundraiser,” Sabrina said.
The group is collecting unused or unopened coloring books and crayons to donate to the hospital, as well as monetary contributions. Donations boxes will be located in the main office of the school, 750 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick, and during the South Brunswick School District Student Art Gallery event on March 23.
“Last year, in addition to crayons and coloring books, we accepted monetary donations, which allowed us to purchase a number of other items that were in demand in the hospital such as baby mobiles, LEGO sets and Xbox games. The children especially enjoyed the 55 crayon boxes and 33 coloring books collected,” Sabrina said.
For more information, call Budhu at 732-329-4044.