On Precepting Day, March 24, Resident Assistants from the Freshman Housing Staff hosted Crafts for a Cause in the TRLC, where people were welcomed to come and go as they pleased to make cards, coloring books, and teddy bears for sick children. In addition, there were jars collecting donations for Stockton’s upcoming Relay for Life event, each with a building’s letter on them as incentive to collect the most change for our buildings. A few of my friends and I went to the event at 2:00, and as it was scheduled to run until 4:00, we ended up spending the whole two hours there, each stitching a teddy bear. I had never sown or done any sort of project like this, so learning to stitch was kind of difficult at first. However, after cutting the fabric with tiny owls that I chose, and starting the first stitch, I eventually got the hang of it to a beginner’s degree. After two hours, the table full of people I was sitting with each had made one (or in some cases, more than one) teddy bear to donate. Meanwhile, others made coloring books and warming cards to donate as well.
I had a great time at this event because while we were learning how to do something new, we were also helping others who would not have received these bears, books, and cards from us without the program. Unfortunately, it often goes unnoticed that there are so many children that are lacking any sort of warm wishes or toys due to being sick or very poor. Even after making a small bear, I hope that I can impact a child in even the slightest way by them receiving the bear. At the end of the program, 18 bears, 75 cards, and 86 coloring books were made for children in Atlantic Care hospital and the Stanley Home Homework Completion program. In addition, my building, D, happened to raise the most amount of money for Relay for Life! I thoroughly enjoyed going to this program and had a great time with my friends and learning to make a teddy bear.