CLARKS GREEN — An Our Lady of Peace School student is on mission to spread some joy among 85 children she has never met. And she is doing so with the use of 17 empty water bottles.

Molly Devine, eighth grade, conducted a campaign during the last week of September, Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, to raise money for the Jessie Rees Foundation. The funds will be used to send JoyJars, jars filled with age-appropriate gifts, to courageous pediatric cancer patients around the world.

Molly said the inspiration for her project came from her 10-year-old cousin William Collett, who lives in Florida. William was diagnosed with leukemia about three months ago and recently received his own JoyJar. Witnessing the encouragement that gift brought to her younger cousin, Molly wanted to help more children experience the same.

“I wanted to make people with cancer feel happy, for them to be able to be kids and be themselves,” she said. “So I wanted to raise money to send (JoyJars) to other kids with cancer.”

After conducting research on the foundation, Molly presented the idea to the school principal, Colleen Jumper, who then gave her permission to move forward with the project.

“I am so proud of Molly for doing all the research and bringing this to everyone’s attention,” said Jumper. “We’re all about helping others here.”

After gaining the principal’s permission, Molly got busy making posters to hang around the school; emptying, drying and labeling plastic water bottles in which to collect the money; and writing a few paragraphs about the campaign to present to her peers after a morning prayer assembly. Upon delivering the 17 empty bottles – one to each of the school’s homerooms – all she had left to do was wait, as her fellow students filled them with dimes over the next week.

According to Molly, each water bottle can hold enough dimes to fund five JoyJars. Her goal for the fundraiser is for the students in each homeroom to fill their jar to the top, providing funds for a total of 85 JoyJars.

Molly Devine, eighth grade, organized a fundraiser at Our Lady of Peace School, collecting dimes in water bottles for the Jessie Rees Foundation. Each water bottle, when filled to the top with dimes, will purchase five JoyJars, jars stuffed with small gifts, for pediatric cancer patients. With one water bottle placed in each of the school’s 17 homerooms, Molly’s goal for the campaign is to fund 85 JoyJars.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ABJ-Joy-2.jpg.optimal.jpgMolly Devine, eighth grade, organized a fundraiser at Our Lady of Peace School, collecting dimes in water bottles for the Jessie Rees Foundation. Each water bottle, when filled to the top with dimes, will purchase five JoyJars, jars stuffed with small gifts, for pediatric cancer patients. With one water bottle placed in each of the school’s 17 homerooms, Molly’s goal for the campaign is to fund 85 JoyJars. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

Our Lady of Peace School Principal Colleen Jumper and eighth-grade student Molly Devine pose outside the school entrance, which is decorated with golden ribbon in acknowledgement of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. During the last week of September, Molly spearheaded a fundraising campaign among her peers, collecting dimes to provide JoyJars, jars filled with small gifts, for pediatric cancer patients.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ABJ-Joy-1.jpg.optimal.jpgOur Lady of Peace School Principal Colleen Jumper and eighth-grade student Molly Devine pose outside the school entrance, which is decorated with golden ribbon in acknowledgement of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. During the last week of September, Molly spearheaded a fundraising campaign among her peers, collecting dimes to provide JoyJars, jars filled with small gifts, for pediatric cancer patients. Elizabeth Baumeister photos | Abington Journal

By Elizabeth Baumeister

ebaumeister@timesleader.com

About the Jessie Rees Foundation

According to the Jessie Rees Foundation’s website, negu.org, Jessica Joy Rees (April 8, 1999-Jan. 5, 2012) started making her fun-filled JoyJars as a way to send hope and joy to other pediatric cancer patients, because she knew fighting cancer makes one feel lonely and limited.

During her own battle, Jessie sent more than 3,000 JoyJars to other kids fighting cancer. To date, more than 123,000 JoyJars have been stuffed and sent to courageous children around the world.

Reach Elizabeth Baumeister at 570-704-3943 or on Twitter @AbingtonJournal.