Student turns greeting card sales into 300+ toys for kids in hospitals
December 17, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
A determined eighth grader from St. Paul School, Princeton, has demonstrated just how big an impact one person can have on the lives of others.
Kyleigh Hillsdon began using her creativity with the help of her Cricut — a digital die-cutting machine — to churn out handmade greeting cards for all occasions over the past few years, donating packs of cards to her school’s fundraising auction. When they sold well, she got the idea to do something more.
“The cards get so many compliments … I thought I could make some for charity,” she said. “I was surprised by the success.”
Kids in the hospital at Christmas
Learning of the Hamilton-based charity Joey’s Little Angels and its annual Christmas toy drive for children undergoing medical treatments, Kyleigh knew she was on to something. The cards began selling nearly as fast as she could make them when she advertised that she would use the proceeds to buy toys for Joey’s Little Angels.
“I chose children in the hospital because it is hard to be away from home at any time, but especially this time of year; those kids are going through so much,” she explained. “If it can make their Christmas happier, I wanted to try to help. Their parents are probably stressed about the illness and the bills, and the money that goes along with it; buying gifts might not be the priority.”
Beginning in April, she sold cards to friends and family in person and on Facebook. Then she secured a table at the November craft fair hosted by St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton Square, and for months she poured herself into card-making — with some help from friends, her brother, Carter, and her parents, Janice and Dan.
In total, she sold nearly 300 cards, raising a total of about $650 through purchases and donations. When Black Friday sales came, Kyleigh had a strategic shopping plan that took between 5 and 10 a.m. to complete.
“I looked up the toys ahead of time. I tried to make sure the toys I got were the best fit, [and] I tried to cover all ages.”
Cars full of toys
Kyleigh was able to purchase approximately 250 toys. Combined with additional donations from her supporters, the 317 toys filled both family cars when she made her delivery to the JLA Christmas party Nov. 25 at Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville.
“The student volunteers commented that it was like a clown car — no matter how much they took out, there was more,” she said.
Kyleigh has worked on other service projects, but she said this was her fifth and largest effort. She also started a community service club in her school this year; each month, participating students choose a charity to support and collaborate on a hands-on project.
When asked how she might encourage her peers, she said, “activities like this help others and make them feel good. It also makes me feel great seeing what I can accomplish. Once you come up with who you want to help, start small, and then let the dream grow.”
To learn more about Joey’s Little Angels, visit https://www.joeyslittleangels.org.
Nicole Angiolino, right, co-founder of Joey’s Little Angels, poses with Kyleigh Hillsdon at her craft fair table in St. Gregory the Great Academy.
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A determined eighth grader from St. Paul School, Princeton, has demonstrated just how big an impact one person can have on the lives of others.
Kyleigh Hillsdon began using her creativity with the help of her Cricut — a digital die-cutting machine — to churn out handmade greeting cards for all occasions over the past few years, donating packs of cards to her school’s fundraising auction. When they sold well, she got the idea to do something more.
“The cards get so many compliments … I thought I could make some for charity,” she said. “I was surprised by the success.”
Kids in the hospital at Christmas
Learning of the Hamilton-based charity Joey’s Little Angels and its annual Christmas toy drive for children undergoing medical treatments, Kyleigh knew she was on to something. The cards began selling nearly as fast as she could make them when she advertised that she would use the proceeds to buy toys for Joey’s Little Angels.
“I chose children in the hospital because it is hard to be away from home at any time, but especially this time of year; those kids are going through so much,” she explained. “If it can make their Christmas happier, I wanted to try to help. Their parents are probably stressed about the illness and the bills, and the money that goes along with it; buying gifts might not be the priority.”
Beginning in April, she sold cards to friends and family in person and on Facebook. Then she secured a table at the November craft fair hosted by St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton Square, and for months she poured herself into card-making — with some help from friends, her brother, Carter, and her parents, Janice and Dan.
In total, she sold nearly 300 cards, raising a total of about $650 through purchases and donations. When Black Friday sales came, Kyleigh had a strategic shopping plan that took between 5 and 10 a.m. to complete.
“I looked up the toys ahead of time. I tried to make sure the toys I got were the best fit, [and] I tried to cover all ages.”
Cars full of toys
Kyleigh was able to purchase approximately 250 toys. Combined with additional donations from her supporters, the 317 toys filled both family cars when she made her delivery to the JLA Christmas party Nov. 25 at Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville.
“The student volunteers commented that it was like a clown car — no matter how much they took out, there was more,” she said.
Kyleigh has worked on other service projects, but she said this was her fifth and largest effort. She also started a community service club in her school this year; each month, participating students choose a charity to support and collaborate on a hands-on project.
When asked how she might encourage her peers, she said, “activities like this help others and make them feel good. It also makes me feel great seeing what I can accomplish. Once you come up with who you want to help, start small, and then let the dream grow.”
To learn more about Joey’s Little Angels, visit https://www.joeyslittleangels.org.
Nicole Angiolino, right, co-founder of Joey’s Little Angels, poses with Kyleigh Hillsdon at her craft fair table in St. Gregory the Great Academy.