Peace Core hosted a fundraiser for the Hospice of Western Reserve throughout February and March, in order to create Easter baskets for those who are suffering.

Intervention specialist Kristen Fatica took initiative this year for the fundraiser in hopes of making a difference in the Mayfield community. She said, “A dear friend of mine started this program years ago, and Peace Core seemed like the perfect club to organize and donate to the children at hospice.”

The officers of Peace Core thought this was a great idea and were happy to be a part of it.

Monica Difranco, one of the head officers, admits she took lead with publicizing this event. “I have been promoting it around school and encouraging others to bring in items. I posted the fliers around the halls to remind people, while also making an announcement every morning,” she said.

In the details of this event, the Peace Core had an organized plan and thorough criteria for the fundraiser distribution.

Fatica created a plan for exporting these goods. “We prepare the baskets here at school, and then we deliver them to a friend who delivers all the baskets on Easter to every child in hospice care,” she said before the Easter delivery.

Some of the most popular items included in the baskets were blankets, games, candy, clothes, and chapstick.

DiFranco worked together with officers and peers to distribute the baskets. “The plan is to distribute the Easter baskets hopefully during Spring Break. We finish collecting donations on the 15th, and so after that, we will put the baskets together and then distribute,” she said in mid-March.

Even though this was heavily run by Fatica and the officers, the club members were able to assist as well.

A veteran member of the club, Joseph Bican, thinks he is truly connected with the purpose of this fundraiser. He said, “As a kid, I was lucky to have parents who could afford toys and new clothes. Seeing kids who don’t have these things makes me upset and motivates me to do more for others.”

Throughout this event, Bican also chipped-in to the fundraiser, creating a model basket for his peers. “I have contributed to this fundraiser by creating an Easter basket filled with goods that will help out a child at Hospice. This Easter basket contained toys, candy, clothes, basic needs, and other things that will help a child feel more like a kid during these difficult times,” he said.

The children that received these baskets were 12 and 14 years old.

Because of this, Fatica hopes to create a message for the teens of Mayfield High and put things in perspective for them. She said, “This allows Mayfield students to realize how truly blessed we are here at Mayfield and to help children in need.”

Bican also agrees with this, with hopes of empowering the Mayfield community for change. “Through this Hospice fundraiser, people in the school community are able to get a grasp as to how to help kids in need. This is incredibly important, seeing as though there are many kids in our community who need our help,” he said.

Even though the basket collecting drew to a close on March 15th, Peace Core does not plan on stopping its mission to help the less fortunate.

Bican is excited for what the future holds for Mayfield Peace Core, hosting many other fundraisers in the future. He said, “I want to make an impact in my community. With the help of Peace Core, I truly believe I will be able to make a change.”