Kennedy Community School eighth grader, Keara Moore, was intrigued one day when her mother brought home a flyer from a computer shop she’d visited. The flyer asked for donations to create parent essential backpacks for families whose children are diagnosed with cancer. The idea pulled at Moore’s heartstrings. So, like any eighth grade girl, she called her best friend, Erin Wald.
“It sounded like a fun idea,” says Moore. “So, I asked Erin for help. I knew it would take a lot of effort and time.”
Wald jumped at the chance.
Parent essential backpacks are filled with items such as toothpaste and brushes, snacks, water, blankets, towels, crossword puzzles, and other items to stay busy in the hospital while parents wait for their child to go through a multitude of tests. The backpacks are donated to the Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis.
Wald and Moore wanted it to be a school fundraising event.
“First, we had to get permission from the school. Then, we went around to businesses asking if they would donate supplies or money,” explained Moore.
Moore’s mother drove the girls to local businesses. They were able to raise $1,400 of in-kind supplies for the backpacks.
Students at Kennedy raised an additional $3,100. DoTERRA essential oils company then matched a portion of those funds. In total, the girls raised over $5,000 to purchase donation items. They ordered 100 backpacks plus items to fill them. When the supplies arrived, they gathered more friends to pack all the backpacks at school.
Once the backpacks were ready, the girls contacted the couple who ran the backpack fundraiser.
Jessica and Derek Blonigen were shocked to receive a phone call from Kennedy students to be told the school fundraised for 100 ready-to-go essential backpacks. The Blonigens have stuffed backpacks for the last couple of years. Each year, their goal is to donate 100 backpacks to Children’s Hospital. This year, Kennedy met that goal for them.
“We were excited, overwhelmed and grateful,” shares Jessica. “We felt supported because we’re trying to give back. We were self-funding and struggling to get donations. It really restores your faith in goodness … It’s just helpful to have that help from someone you don’t even know – strangers. To know that you’re not fighting alone at a difficult time.”
A few years ago, the Blonigens experienced the support of strangers when their son became ill. They found themselves at Children’s Hospital for nearly 10 days while their son went through multiple tests to diagnose his illness as cancer. They were unprepared for the extended stay and lived a distance away from the hospital. It was the support of strangers that helped them get by.
“So, we wanted to give back,” says Derek. “We wanted to give all the things we wished we had.”
Jessica adds, “So, you can just focus on your child. … It’s self-care for the parents so they can better take care of their kid.”
Right now, Children’s Hospital gives out approximately eight backpacks a month to parents in need. Every time the Blonigens’ son has to go in for his scans, they call ahead to ask how many backpacks they can bring with them to keep the hospital supplied. The backpacks will now cover Children’s Hospital for the next year. The Blonigens’ goal is to expand out to other hospitals now.
One-by-one, all 100 backpacks were presented to the Blonigens at Kennedy’s school assembly. Students cheered for the family and themselves for making a big difference for cancer families.
It was an emotional moment for the Blonigens and a sense of pride for Moore and Wald.
“We’re just as capable of doing stuff as adults,” says Moore. “It just takes a little more effort to take us seriously.”
It brought an awareness to Kennedy students about what community means and what kids are able to accomplish. They know that nothing can hold them back, especially after raising money to stuff 100 backpacks filled with essential items for parents of cancer patients. All it took was a little inspiration from a flyer and a student with heart.
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