Giant Food Stores volunteers make capes for patients

DANVILLE – Xena Price of Altoona spent her day painting designs on capes as she volunteered for a project for Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger. The store employment associate for both State College Giant Food Store locations painted donated t-shirts made into capes that will be given to children who are brought to the pediatric emergency department at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.

More than 30 volunteers from Giant Food Stores from across the region worked to cut, shape and design 400 capes from t-shirts that were donated by the Musser family from Lebanon, PA. Triple Play Sports in Danville donated decals that were used on the capes. The capes were decorated with fun designs and words of encouragement like Hope, Brave, Courage and Strength.

“I am designing capes for kids who need to smile,” Price said. “It is heartwarming to give back to someone who is having a much harder time than yourself. Hopefully this will give them a moment of relief.”

The capes will be used throughout the year in the pediatric emergency department and are a welcome commodity for hospital caregivers.

“The capes are wonderful and a simple way to help scared children feel a little braver when they are in the emergency department,” said Sarah Alander, MD, director of pediatric emergency medicine. “The idea that they come from volunteers in the community, helps connect us all in the important care of the children entrusted to us.”