Residents of Fulton Presbyterian Manor helped Ryan's Case for Smiles by adding informational cards to pillow case bags Monday.
Several residents volunteered to help the group by taking the time to place tags inside bags containing pillow cases for children in exchange for Root beer floats and slices of zucchini bread. Case for Smiles is an international organization that creates pillow cases for children staying in hospitals while receiving treatment for their illness.
"Most of us are non-medical people and it's something we can do to put a smile on children's faces," mid-Missouri Coordinator Ginger Beasley said. "Our motto is "helping children feel better to heal better.'"
Case for Smiles, which was recently changed from Conkerr Cancer, is the only all-volunteer organization focused to help children with life-changing illnesses, according to a newsletter. The group originally created pillowcases for children with cancer, 20 percent which are diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, according to the group's fact sheet. However, the group expanded to included all children dealing with serious illnesses, Beasley said.
As of September, the group has donated more than one million pillowcases to children in hospitals. The mid-Missouri chapter has been making pillowcases since 2011 and has donated more than 9,000, according to the newsletter. All the materials and labor to make the pillowcases were a result of donations.
A couple residents from Presbyterian Manor have helped Case for Smiles in the past by sewing pillowcases and adding the informational tags. Emily Clatterbuck, one of the residents who has helped in the past, enjoyed helping Case for Smiles.
"It brings happiness to the children and it's such a surprise," Clatterbuck said.
Anyone interested in donating materials or helping Case for Smiles should contact Ginger Beasley at (573) 592-7539 or via email at [email protected].