Sunrise on Wheels
Sunrise on Wheels is an incredible, year-round outreach program for children and families who are in the Outpatient Clinic for part or all of the day.

Our volunteers roll out a rainbow tie-dye trunk right into the waiting room/playroom of the Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Clinic at Schneider Children's Hospital. Wheels is onsite every Monday and Friday morning, and has changed what used to be a long and dreary day to one of magic and surprise.

The day in Clinic can be a long and difficult one for kids and their families, as they wait for their laboratory results, wait for their basic check up, wait to see the doctor, and wait for their treatment. Some kids go through this long procedure a few times a week for months at a time.

But twice a week, as the lid opens up, a world of toys, games, puzzles and projects delights the eyes of everyone. The trunk contains everything from simple games like cards, to mind teasers like Mancala. We have games for groups of kids to play together like Gone Fishing and Ants in the Pants, not to mention that old-time classic, Trouble. There are coloring books, crafts and stickers, and imaginations run wild in all of the colors that are used. We have individual hand held games like electronic baseball, Simon, and Mini Guitar Hero AND to everyone's delight, we have internet ready laptops, which our children rarely see because their parents are happily hogging them!

Sunrise on Wheels will be expanding its reach to other affiliated hospitals in the near future, as we continue in our commitment to bring as many smiles to as many children as possible.

If you would like more information on this new program, please contact:
Bonnie Flatow - 516-634-4158 - bflatow@friedbergjcc.org
Lindsay Mauer - 516-634-4193 - lmauer@friedbergjcc.org

Sunshine From Sunrise
From time to time, children associated with Sunrise Day Camp and our year-round programs fall ill, requiring hospitalization and separation from their friends and family. A group of our camp staff as well as some of our trained volunteers visit hospitals to bring Sunrise greetings and a "bag of fun" to our Sunrise children. We guarantee to bring a smile to any and every child's face while we visit!

As a direct result of our presence in the outpatient clinic with our Sunrise on Wheels project, we have met so many new children and families, some of whom are not (or not yet) Sunrise campers. Yet because of these close associations, many parents are now asking us to stop by to see their children when they are admitted, which can often occur right after their clinic appointment. So now we always carry an extra goodie bag or two, just in case we have the chance to bring a smile to any child, whether they are a camper or not.

As for our Sunrise Parents, please contact Bonnie at 516-634-4158 or at bflatow@friedbergjcc.org if you would like a bit o' sunshine brought to your child in the hospital. If you have not received our Sunshine from Sunrise refrigerator magnet and calling cards, please contact Bonnie, and she will mail them to you immediately.