Get Creative, Help Provide Hospitalized Children With Gift Bags

HUNTINGTON, NY — Splashes of Hope is encouraging children (and their parents) to get artistic while they're at home together more often as a result of the new coronavirus. The nonprofit organization is seeking creative gift bags made by children, as well as monetary donations, as part of its Friend on the Mend activity. Kids in a hospital who are quarantined all of the time need help, and Splashes of Hope is looking to provide it.

The activity can either be a group family project or an outlet for children to use their creativity to support fellow kids who need it.

Here's how to decorate a coloring book bag for a hospitalized child: Create a 5 by 7 inches page with a fun, uplifting decoration. Then create another page and write a story describing the design; kids are encouraged to avoid phrases like "Get well soon," "Feel better," and instead say "Be happy" or "Have a sunny day!" Scan and send a PDF of the designs to info@splashesofhope.org to have it featured on a bag going to a hospitalized child. The organization will then pack the bag with goodies to donate to a child, but it needs donations to do so.

You can sponsor one gift set for $20; two for $40; four for $60; 12 for $150; 22 for $350; or 52 for $750. Each bag will contain one coloring book, a pack of crayons, one animal puppet and one I-Spy foldout.

This is also a competition. The best design will be announced, and the artist will win a prize. The full instructions are here.

Splashes of Hope creates art designed to comfort patients during treatment, healing and recovery. The murals are done at hospitals, healthcare centers and social service facilities.