Grand Valley State University junior Christine Colleran knows firsthand what it’s like to be in the hospital for Christmas.

When she was younger, Colleran battled a kidney infection that kept her in the hospital during what would normally be a much more festive season.

“[A] hospital is a place way beyond your years, a place filled with stress, sterility and caution,” Colleran said.

Inspired by the kindness of a stranger who brought her a gift during a difficult holiday season, Colleran decided to pay the kindness forward, starting a volunteer group called Holiday Helpers, which delivers toys to children who are in the hospital over the holidays.

Due to legal restrictions that prohibited them from hand-delivering toys to patients, Holiday Helpers has made the steps necessary to become an official nonprofit organization, run with the help of five GVSU students, one Eastern Michigan University student and one Penn State University student.

“It’s huge being able to deliver toys ourselves,” Colleran said. “The minute you give a toy to a child it can turn their whole day around and get them on the road to recovery.”

Now that Holiday Helpers is a nonprofit organization, its goals are loftier than ever. Currently, the group works with hospitals in the metro Detroit area but is hoping to expand and start working with more hospitals in Grand Rapids.

“We’re hoping to get wish lists from hospitals this year so we can give [children] what toys they want,” said Kelly Stratton, a GVSU junior.

In order to reach as many hospitals as possible, the organization is looking for volunteers to help with delivering toys and fundraising, as well as monetary or toy donations.

Colleran said since the organization was started from scratch, the usual sources of family and friends who often donate are depleted.

Holiday Helpers is currently seeking both volunteers and donations. Even if people have one free day to give, whether it’s delivering toys or volunteering at a fundraiser, the group would appreciate it, Colleran said.

The organization is full of opportunities to learn and give. Volunteers involved in Holiday Helpers are taking the skills they are learning within their individual majors and applying them to the organization.

Anyone looking to make donations can send items to Holiday Helpers, P.O. Box 140414 Grand Rapids, Mich., 49514. For those looking to volunteer, visit the organization website www.holidayhelpersmi.org or email them at [email protected].

Colleran and the rest the Holiday Helpers staff hope to make the holiday season a little bit better for children in the hospital, and maybe provide them with some inspiration in the process.

“It has taken a lot of time and we’ve had to sacrifice a few nights out with friends, but so far it’s been worth it and I expect it to continue to be worth it,” Stratton said.

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