NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – The Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK) is setting up card-making stations in several malls across the country this holiday season.
It’s all about bringing hope, joy and magic to kids in the hospital.
Jen Rubino, founder of Cards for Hospitalized Kids, knows just how hard it is to be in the hospital as a kid.
Rubino got the idea for this charity as a former hospitalized kid herself, undergoing more than 20 surgeries as a child. After receiving a handmade card from a hospital volunteer, which helped to remind her she was not forgotten, Rubino was inspired to found CFHK to help out other kids in a similar situation.
“It’s a really small gesture, but it means so much to the kids,” Rubino said. “It really brightens their days and shows someone is thinking about them.”
Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News is one of the many malls participating in this years event running from Nov. 18 through mid-December. The CFHK Holiday card-making stations are as part of their “Kindness Unwrapped” events taking place for the holidays.
“We just want to bring smiles, joy and magic to children that are in the hospital,” said Mikia Ross, senior marketing director at Patrick Henry Mall.
It’s the mall’s second year doing the card-making station. Ross said it’s cool to see how many people sit down to make a card.
“When you walk past in the mall and you see all these children sitting down, even adults,” she said. “You see adults. You see, teenagers. Everyone is sitting around in these little chairs in the mall, excited to write a letter to a child.”
Ross said last year, more than 200 letters were sent out.
“It brings a tear to your eyes when you are reading these letters,” Ross said. “People who don’t even know these children that they have reached deep into their hearts to write such a sympathetic and caring letter.”
People will be able to stop by the card-making stations at any time during mall hours to make cards for CFHK to help bring cheer to hospitalized children. Cards can be placed in the mailbox located at the station where each mall’s elves will send the cards for distribution.
Below is a list of all of the malls participating this year:
- Dartmouth Mall (MA)
- Woodland Mall (MI)
- The Mall at Prince George County (MD)
- Valley Mall (MD)
- Francis Scott Key Mall (MD)
- Jacksonville Mall (NC)
- Cherry Hill Mall (NJ)
- Moorestown Mall (NJ)
- Exton Square (PA)
- Capital City Mall (PA)
- Willow Grove Park (PA)
- Viewmont Mall (PA)
- Plymouth Meeting Mall (PA)
- Springfield Mall (PA)
- Magnolia Mall (SC)
- Springfield Valley Town Centre Mall (VA)
- Patrick Henry Mall (VA)
To find out more about Cards for Hospitalized Kids, visit their website here.
