Maddy Reim poses with the care bags she and several others helped create for cancer patients at Inspira Health during a donation drive last month.
Madelyn “Maddy” Reim has made it her mission to help people with cancer by creating Maddy’s Care Bags.
The township resident got the idea around the time someone close to her was diagnosed with cancer, according to Maddy’s mother Kristin.
“It was New Year’s Day of 2024 and she said to me, ‘This year I want to help people with cancer and make them bags,'” Kristin recalled of her 11-year-old. “She wanted to be able to help people feel better in a way a (then) 9-year-old could. Madelyn has always envisioned herself in the medical field, so this idea made sense to me.”
Maddy set up her first donation drive to collect items with family and friends. Included in the Care Bags were bracelets with inspirational messages, materials for which are donated by Kara Carola at Kind Hearts and Crafts in Mullica Hill; jigsaw puzzles; coloring books; and pens and pencils.
That first effort led to the creation of 50 Care Bags donated to patients at Inspira Hospital.
Maddy then reached out to Pleasant Valley School principal Karen Russo, who agreed to organize a donation drive so students could participate. It resulted in 153 bags.
“Maddy created a flyer for our families to collect donations,” Russo explained. “Then, she had some friends help her assemble the bags with motivation cards and donations such as coloring books, hand sanitizer, etc. This year, Maddy got the church involved to put the care bags together.”
That church is the Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit. Along with Pleasant Valley, it collected items for 287 bags.
“Maddy’s compassion, leadership and willingness to think beyond herself demonstrate outstanding character,” noted Russo. “Bringing others together to support children and adults facing difficult medical challenges shows empathy and a deep commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.
“Her efforts not only provided comfort to those receiving the care packages, but also inspired our school community to come together in kindness and generosity,” she added. “We are very proud of the leadership and heart Maddy has displayed through this meaningful project.”
As Maddy moves on to Clearview Middle School next year, she hopes to continue the donation drives at Pleasant Valley.
“My husband and I are extremely proud of Madelyn and her big heart,” said Kristin. “Her and her friends, along with classmates, put a lot of love and care into each bag. We all hope the patients can feel that love as they receive them.”
Any item can be donated, as can monetary donations, by contacting Kristin by email at kristinreim1013@gmail.com or calling (856) 577-3224.
