Kards for Kids Event The Xavierite
The Psychology Department hosted their annual Kards for Kids event at the diner on Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon to bring the community together in creating cards for children staying at Advocate Children’s Hospital to uplift their spirits during treatment.
Preparations were created before the event began, as cutouts of pumpkins and witches’ hats were displayed, including markers, crayons, colored paper, and glue sticks.
The Psychology Club usually organizes Kards for Kids each semester. During the fall, the cards are themed in the halloween spirit. In the spring, the cards are decorated in Valentine’s designs.
Gabriela Olivares-Diaz, president of the Psychology Club, commented, “I know art isn’t for everybody but if you try to send a nice message to somebody, students might feel good themselves that they’re doing a type of act of service for the community. Coloring can be sometimes fun, sometimes it can be stressful, but the point of this is to be a nice distress.”
Typically, Kards for Kids create over 50 cards by the end of the event.
“It’s really more about building connections and making friends because we want to also make students happy on this campus,” mentioned Olivares-Diaz.
Shezana Khan, student, aspires to become a doctor, connected the event to her own personal experience of being in hospitals for her sister who was born with a partially paralyzed right arm. Recovery through physiotherapy and patience had Khan understand the pain of having a loved one stay in hospitals for periods of time.
“It takes a toll on your family, so I know how it feels,” she explained. “It was just a disturbing time for our family, so I understand what a child would feel if they read one of these and I know it would bring a smile to their face which is what I’m here for.”
Once the cards are completed and collected, they are dropped off at Advocate’s Children’s Hospital, where they are soon to be sent to children that are battling illness.
“We don’t really necessarily interact with any kids unfortunately, we would like to but I guess depending on the environment they’re in. It wouldn’t allow us to really interact,” said Olivares-Diaz.
The event allows for students to destress from their academic studies as it lets them experience their creative side, while doing beneficial activities for their communities. Olivares-Diaz and Katelyn Wanowski, vice president, both mentioned how these events help to bring students closer and get to know each other, allowing for a more relaxed environment.
“It was a fun event to do when we’re all together. It’s really nice collaborating and cutting everything out and just talking, it’s been a relaxing event,” comments Wanowski.
“I think it as a really fun and good event, I think just doing small acts of gestures that are good for the world, we need more of that,” said Joshua Atiles Barron, student.
“I think on a personal level, I just had a good experience from my friends, making something for a kid that might need some words of encouragement or just some love. I think that made my day, my month better, giving me a reason to keep on pushing and keep doing what I’m doing, so someone who is struggling could do what they’re doing and keep pushing forward.”
Olivares-Diaz thanked and gave credit to the Psychology Department, as they have impacted RSO members in the past when hosting this event.
“It makes me feel really, really good especially because they’re [children] probably really sick and it’s just taking a little but of time from your day to make at least one card, and knowing its probably making these kids really happy means a lot to me,” said Mia Padilla, general member of Psychology Club.
Padilla said Kards for Kids reminded her of being in grammar school and going back to the memories of crafting cards, as it was one of her favorite activities.
For more information on the Psychology Club or to join the organization, contact psychclub@mymail.sxu.edu