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‘Truly blessed’: Cambria Heights students bring smiles to children hospitalized during the holidays

By Matt Churella 5 min read

For the fourth year, Cambria Heights High School students have gone above and beyond their goal to spread Christmas joy and cheer with young patients at UPMC Altoona.

Every year, students in the school host a friendly competition among the homeroom classes to see who can create the most Jared Boxes for the hospital, said Michele Schirf, a Cambria Heights teacher who organizes the annual donation.

The boxes contain a number of items to help children -- ranging in age from infants to teenagers -- at the hospital pass the time during their stay. Inside the boxes are coloring books and crayons, puzzles, fidget toys, stuffed animals and other small items.

The students' goal was to make 200 boxes this year. They were able to deliver 239 boxes to the hospital on Friday, in part thanks to high school science teacher Paul Eckenrode, who doesn't have a homeroom class, but made and donated 50 boxes with his family, Schirf said.

Cambria Heights students Noah Pierce and Levi Sever led the charge as they carried bags of boxes into the hospital's lobby area to the sounds of a Charlie Brown Christmas tune, "Linus and Lucy," being performed by a player piano.

"This is so cool and humbling when you see these young people going out of their way to do something so special for the children who come through these doors and need that distraction," said Michelle Walters, UPMC Altoona's volunteer services manager.

Jamie Murphy's homeroom won the competition for the second year in a row, Schirf said, noting Murphy has a new group of freshmen students in her homeroom this year. Those students and others who "helped a lot" with the competition delivered the boxes to the hospital Friday morning.

In the afternoon, all students throughout the school were rewarded with fun activities for their participation in this year's competition, Schirf said, explaining students could watch a movie, participate in "reindeer games" or play pickleball in the school's gymnasium.

Freshman Benjamin Gormish, one of the students in Murphy's homeroom, said he and his classmates were proud to help others in need.

"I'm glad our homeroom could come together and help children," Gormish said.

Senior Maria Wendekier, a member of Brianna Toth's homeroom class, said providing a small service for others is the greatest gift she and her classmates could give during the Christmas season.

"I think it's a really nice tradition that we have at the school," Wendekier said.

Wendekier said delivering the boxes to the hospital made her feel "fulfilled" as she understands how special the boxes are to patients spending their holiday in the hospital.

"I'm excited to do it every year because there's different kids who didn't think they would be here and now they are," she said. "I think it's a nice thing to give back at Christmastime."

Eric Thomas, the school's principal, said his son, Braden, along with Schrif, was one of the people responsible for starting the tradition four years ago. Jared McMullen, whom the Jared Box Project is named after, was their cousin, Thomas said, noting McMullen's grandparents lived within the Cambria Heights School District in Hastings.

According to Thomas, McMullen was diagnosed with an incurable brain stem tumor in 1999.

McMullen, at age 5, carried a bag of toys with him during his many trips to hospitals for cancer treatment and questioned why the other children didn't bring toys to their exam rooms.

Deciding to share his toys with the other children, McMullen demonstrated faith, wisdom and compassion for others, according to the Jared Box Project's website.

"He was the most caring, compassionate kid that anytime he saw another kid there who was going through the same struggles, he always wanted to share his toys or his games," Thomas said, noting McMullen's family was so moved by their son's selflessness that they decided to start the box project after McMullen lost his life to cancer.

"This is a really good thing," Thomas said. "I'm so proud of our kids, our school and our community."

In his welcoming remarks to the students, UPMC Altoona President Mike Corso said the boxes they made "go a long way for our patients."

"We are super, super appreciative of everything you've done," Corso told the students as they gathered around tables covered with bags of boxes. "It will certainly make a difference in people's lives."

Walters said it's "wonderful" to see how the Cambria Heights School District "comes together" to help the hospital's young patients every year.

"The Jared Boxes coming into the hospital are always extremely meaningful," Walters said. "They've done such a wonderful job. We're truly blessed."

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.

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