By-Line: Sheri Muth Coordinator Jacksonville/Daytona Chapter, Ryan’s Case for Smiles
This summer the local chapter of Ryan’s Case for Smiles is celebrating the delivery of 50 thousand (50,000) pillowcase smiles. Nationally we are celebrating the delivery of the 3 million pillowcase smiles!
Throughout Jacksonville down to Daytona, some volunteers are sewing whimsical and bright pillowcases for children with cancer and serious illnesses. Every other month 400+ individually packaged pillowcases are delivered to Nemours and Wolfson’s Children’s Hospitals in Jacksonville, Halifax Health and Adventhealth Hospitals in Daytona, and Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville. They are also delivered to Pedscare Hospice, Ronald McDonald House, and Begin Again Children’s Grief Counseling. Their motto is to help children “feel better to heal better” through pillowcase smiles.
The local chapter of Ryan’s Case for Smiles, which is located in Palm Coast, has a network of sewers from various Quilt Guilds/groups from Jacksonville to Port Orange sewing with love to our pillowcases. In Flagler County, we have Sewing with Heart and Memory Makers Cut Up and Sew Quilt Shop in Palm Coast & St. Augustine, is a huge supporter and has generously held “charity days” for this group where 100’s of pillowcases are sewn in a day, and they are also drop-off locations. Additional drop-off locations are at Sew N’Quilt Co in Holly Hill, and Tilted Quilters and Cinnamons in Jacksonville.
Ryan’s Case for Smiles started in 2002 when Cindy Kerr began making colorful pillowcases for her son Ryan who was in the hospital for long periods battling Osteosarcoma. The pillowcases brightened up his hospital room and put a smile on his face. The pillowcases became so loved by Ryan that Cindy and her friends began making them for other sick children. In 2007, Cindy began growing the organization and establishing chapters across the country. Today, there are over 120 chapters of Case For Smiles across the United States, Canada, England, and South Africa. The local chapter was started in 2011.
The local Case for Smiles Chapter invites you to join them in their quest to deliver smiles! Here’s how you can help: Make a cheerful pillowcase (or many) and drop them off at one of our locations. Donate fabric or other sewing materials. Organize a group effort through your church, guild, workplace, or other service group! Donate funds through the website, caseforsmiles.org, and designate the Jacksonville/Daytona chapter. All donations are tax-deductible, and you will receive a tax receipt. For more information, Contact the Jacksonville/Daytona Coordinator, Sheri Muth via email at case4smilesjaxdaytona@gmail.com
