Bat mitzvah project brings $10,000 in donations to Stony Brook Children's Hospital
Hannalee Wilbur recently collected more than $10,000 worth of items ranging from toys to toiletries and donated the items to Stony Brook Children's Hospital's Ronald McDonald Family Room. Credit: Ronald McDonald House Long Island
When Hannalee Wilbur began thinking about a community service project to take on for her upcoming bat mitzvah, she knew she wanted to help the charity that supported her family during one its most difficult times.
Hannalee, who turned 13 on June 8, recently collected more than $10,000 worth of toys, toiletries and other essentials for the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, which features amenities like a kitchenette and private showers to give families a "restful place to unwind while remaining close to their child" during their hospital stay, according to the hospital. The effort was part of her mitzvah project, a community service initiative undertaken by children preparing for their Bat Mitzvah.
Hannalee chose the Ronald McDonald Family Room because her cousin Jacqueline Schumer, of Rhode Island, stayed at a Ronald McDonald House facility after undergoing fetal surgery during her pregnancy four years ago. The baby had been diagnosed with spina bifida, a neural tube defect in which a spine and spinal cord do not form properly. The child, Scottie, is now 3 and "thriving," said Hannalee.
"They made her feel very welcome, and it was a very positive space for her in a very dark time," Hannalee said. "I love giving, and I wanted to help other people because of how they helped my family."
To collect the donations, Hannalee created an Amazon Wish List, and her family spread the word on social media during the two months leading up to her birthday. She then packaged the items into baskets wrapped in cellophane, transported them in a van packed "from top to bottom" and hand delivered them to the hospital, she said.
The response exceeded her expectations. So many items were donated that the entire basement was filled in her family’s home.
"Every day after school I would see like 10 packages and the Amazon man would be like, ‘Here’s another package for your mitzvah project,’ " said Hannalee, who is entering the eighth grade at Samoset Middle School in Lake Ronkonkoma. "I didn’t think we would get so many items. I was so surprised and grateful that so many people wanted to donate."
Hannalee’s mother, Cara Wilbur, praised her daughter's efforts.
"It was just a beautiful experience to watch," she said. "She knows that giving to others who are unfortunately sick can bring a smile to their faces."
Matt Campo, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Long Island, also commended the teen.
"Hannalee is an shining example of how one's kindness and generosity can have a big impact," Campo said. "At just 13 years old, she donated hundreds of Ronald McDonald House wish-list items and care packages that will help so many families experience the comforts of home while their child is hospitalized."
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
