Clare-Gladwin Area School students 'Craft for a Cure'

The Clare-Gladwin Area School has partnered with the international non-profit charity Crafting for a Cure to help package craft-kits and create greeting cards for local children to use when at a hospital, offering them a fun and artistic distraction to help pass the time. The kits and cards will be made through product donations and will be available this fall in emergency rooms, clinic treatment rooms, and operating waiting rooms serving families from Clare and Gladwin counties.    

In early August, the organization’s founder and president, Pamela Bielak, traveled from Canada to the Area School to launch the partnership. Bielak brought the supplies needed to assemble approximately 1,000 craft kits valued at five dollars each. The kits will include a variety of materials such as glue sticks, crayons, magnetic picture frames, yarn, and pipe cleaners. Students in each classroom will be able to assist in packing the kits, constructing the greeting cards, or both.

“This collaboration is a wonderful project for the entire school to work on together,” said Linda Bennett, the Area School teacher who initiated the partnership. “Plus, it gives our students the chance to give back to our local communities.”  

Originating in Canada, Crafting for a Cure looks for opportunities to ensure children have a positive experience when a hospital visit is necessary. According to Bielak, while Crafting for a Cure has partnered with and benefited nearly 100 hospitals and schools around the world, the Clare-Gladwin Area School is the first school in the United States to help the charity pursue its mission. “It is our goal to make all children smile,” said Bielak. “We are excited to work with our first school in the United States and I think the Area School is the perfect fit.”

To learn how to donate, call the Area School at 989-386-3682.

For more information on Crafting for a Care, visit www.craftingforacure.ca.

Crafting for a Cure Founder Pamela Bielak recently delivered craft supplies for the Area School students to create craft kits and greeting cards for local hospital patients. From the left, Bielak, Area School Principal Mike Simon, Area School Teacher Linda Bennett, and Crafting for a Cure volunteers Daniel and Karen.