The Meadville Tribune: Cans for Wishes: Four years of helping children

NEWS

Cans for Wishes: Four years of helping children

COVID-19 and collecting aluminum cans and other metals indirectly saved the lives of a mother and her daughter.

It all started four years ago when the pandemic hit and people were not permitted to gather in large groups.

That stipulation meant a major loss in funds for the Northwest Pennsylvania-West Virginia Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The foundation grants special wishes for critically ill children and youth ages 2 through 18. The purpose is to give the kids a special time to enjoy and remember despite undergoing medical treatments.

Diane Blood, who has been a volunteer with Make-A-Wish for many years, thought something should be done to help Make-A-Wish continue granting wishes, each of which costs several thousand dollars.

She knew people were recycling, so she decided to form a group that would receive funds from the efforts. Thus, Cans for Wishes was born — and it celebrated its fourth anniversary June 1.

To date, the nonprofit has raised $156,000, enough to pay for 34 wishes.

One of the recipients was a teenage boy, Jesse, who wanted to go to Hawaii. Make-A-Wish sends the immediate family along with the Wish recipient.

Jesse and his brother were swimming off the shores of Hawaii on that trip when they noticed a woman and her daughter struggling as they were being pulled farther out in the ocean.

The two young men were able to save the females from drowning — thanks to being at the right spot at the right time.

“There’s a reason Jesse and his family took that trip,” Blood said.

She doesn’t know how the story of the mother and daughter would have ended had Jesse and his brother had not been where they were at that time. She sees God working in lives “every day,” adding, “Somebody somewhere knew Jesse and his brother had to be in Hawaii that day.”

Although that is just one success, Blood said there are other stories of kids meeting their favorite princesses at Walt Disney World, which is a popular wish. Others wishes range from shopping trips to playhouses.

While Make-A-Wish cannot cure an illness, it gives the children a great experience and memories. Blood said while some people think the Make-A-Wish recipients die, about 85 percent live normal lives. In fact, of the 34 wishes Cans for Wishes has been able to fund, only two recipients have passed away.

Blood said she doesn’t do the Cans for Wishes by herself.

John Newhard II of Saegertown heard about the project and got involved.

Each month, Cans for Wishes has what is known as “drop-off day” where people can take cans and other things to Newhard’s home in Saegertown. They are frequently asked if they take treadmills, lawn mowers and appliances, for example. The answer is: If it is metal, Cans for Wishes accepts it.

Blood is the director of the organization. Other board members include Newhard, Gerri Powell, Blood’s husband, Doug, Ryan Hartle, Kristine Haemer and Jackie Roberson.

Many volunteers work with the board in coordinating collection projects and other fundraising events.

In addition, the organization has royalty representing it at various functions, spreading the word that Cans for Wishes makes a difference in people’s lives.

Erica Fish is Miss Cans for Wishes; Kennedy Williams, Junior Miss; and Laiklyn Massey, Little Miss.

Volunteers also help in the community. Recently, they adopted two flower boxes outside the Memory Support Unit at the Crawford County Care Center.

Blood said the care center paid for everything except some mulch and the volunteers did the work.

The Make-A-Wish families are very appreciative and supportive of Cans for Wishes.

Blood said the family of Levi Wade of Conneaut Lake still helps with the drop-off, even though he has passed away.

She said Wade’s death “absolutely broke my heart,” but she continues her work so others can get a wish like he did.

The families of the Wish recipients keep in touch and give Blood regular updates. She said the families have told her how important the wishes are and how they have changed their child’s lives.

Blood said Jesse’s family has “paid it forward,” when one family member showed up on drop-off day with a big truckload of metal in appreciation for sending Jesse to Hawaii.

The next drop-off date is June 23 from 1 to 5 pm. at Newhard’s home, 753 Euclid Ave., Saegertown.

If people can’t make it to Saegertown that day but still want to help, they can take their recyclables to Lincoln Recycling on Mead Avenue, Meadville, during their operating hours. Instead of Lincoln give the donor the money due, the donor can request the money be credited to Cans for Wishes via a special account set up by Lincoln for the organization.

Monetary donations also can be sent to Cans for Wishes, 13253 State Highway 198, Conneautville, PA 16406, or online at cansforwishes.com.

Blood praises God for the community, family and friends involved with the program.

“It’s what makes us tick,” she said.