Stanley-Boyd Students make a difference with Care Packages for Marshfield Children’s Hospital

By Danielle Boos
Posted 2/1/25

For Stanley-Boyd seniors Grace Schmidt and Kira Lato, helping others comes naturally. Last August, the girls embarked on a four-month project to raise funds for and assemble 28 care packages for …

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Stanley-Boyd Students make a difference with Care Packages for Marshfield Children’s Hospital

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For Stanley-Boyd seniors Grace Schmidt and Kira Lato, helping others comes naturally. Last August, the girls embarked on a four-month project to raise funds for and assemble 28 care packages for families with children at Marshfield Children’s Hospital in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
“We both really wanted to help people,” explained Schmidt. “We were inspired by the Operation Shoebox project we did through our church. My brother has beta-thalassemia and frequently visits Marshfield Children’s Hospital for blood transfusions. We thought making care packages would be a great way to support families who are going through similar experiences.” Schmidt also shared that their connection to Marshfield Children’s Hospital ran deeper. “We chose Marshfield Children’s Hospital because my parents already had connections there,” she said. “We wanted to help take some of the stress off families so they could focus on their children.”
To start the project, the girls set a goal to raise $500 for the supply items. They decided to sell homemade apple and blueberry crisps for $10 each, reaching out to family, friends, and the wider community via Facebook. With the funds they raised, Schmidt and Lato bought items for care packages, including tissues, hand sanitizer, phone chargers, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hairbrushes, and Chapstick. They also purchased over 20 food items for the Family Lounge food pantry. Community businesses, including Stanley Hometown Dentistry and Thorp Dental Center, generously donated dental hygiene products to be included in the care packages.
In December, Grace and Kira delivered the care packages to Marshfield Children’s Hospital, where they also volunteered to wrap Christmas gifts for the children and replenish the Family Lounge food pantry. The hospital staff expressed their appreciation for the thoughtful donations. “The staff were very grateful for our donation of care packages, food for the food pantry, and they appreciated us helping wrap gifts,” the girls shared. “They said the packages will come into great use for families here on both short term and long-term occasions.”
When asked about the impact they hope their project will have, the girls said, “We hope our project will inspire others to volunteer or donate to local hospitals.”
Schmidt and Lato’s efforts show the power of kindness and the difference that determined individuals can make in their community. As they continue to inspire others, the girls’ project serves as a reminder that compassion can create meaningful change, one care package at a time.