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Become a Volunteer
It doesn't take a lot to make a big difference in a child's life. Become one of our volunteers today.
Join now
Make a Donation
Help a child smile today by donating to Caitlin's Smiles through PayPal. All donations to Caitlin's Smiles are final. Thanks for your support.
- "A Night of Smiles" Art Auction 2013
- Donations!
- Open House Smiles
- Meet Caitlin and her family
- Hospital Children Enjoying Crafts
- Volunteers
- Annual Holiday party
- Fundraisers!
- FireFighters Day!
- Craft Assembly Night (6-8 pm) - Bring a package of NEW pencils or crayons!
Thu Mar 13, 2014 - Craft Assembly Night (6:30 - 8:30 pm) - Bring a package ZIPLOCK baggies - sandwich or snack size.
Wed Mar 19, 2014 - Craft Assembly Night (6-8 pm) - FULL - Bring a package of pencils!
Thu Apr 3, 2014 - INDOOR YARD SALE
Fri Apr 4, 2014 - Bag Decorating and Card-Making Session
Fri Apr 4, 2014 - Bag Decorating and Card-Making Session
Fri Apr 4, 2014 - INDOOR YARD SALE
Sat Apr 5, 2014 - Bag Decorating and Card-Making Session
Sat Apr 5, 2014 - Bag Decorating and Card-Making Session
Sat Apr 5, 2014 - Craft Assembly Afternoon (2-4 pm) - Bring a package of pencils!
Sat Apr 5, 2014 - Craft Assembly Night (6-8 pm) - Bring a package of NEW pencils or crayons!
Thu Apr 10, 2014 - Craft Assembly Night (6:30 - 8:30 pm) - Bring a package ZIPLOCK baggies - sandwich or snack size.
Wed Apr 16, 2014
March 5, 2014
Texas Roadhouse Fundraisers
Caitlin's Smiles is selling Texas Roadhouse Gift Cards through Friday, April 11, 2014. These gift cards come in denominations of $15, $25, and $50, and may be picked up at our office on April 16 – just in time for Easter! Then, on Sunday, April 27 from 12 noon to 4 pm, Caitlin's Smiles will host a fundraiser at the Texas Roadhouse at 3529 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg. Use your gift card there – or at any Texas Roadhouse Restaurant.
Ten-percent of the sale price of the gift cards and the April 27 fundraiser will be donated to Caitlin's Smiles. Gift card orders must be accompanied by payment and can be mailed to our office at 3303 N 6th St., Harrisburg, PA 17110. Checks should be made out to Caitlin's Smiles.
January 14, 2014
"Have a Heart" Volunteer Day and Craft Fair
Caitlin's Smiles will hold a combination volunteer day and fundraiser on Saturday, February 8, 2014 from 10 am to 4 pm at New Hope Church in Lower Paxton Township.
"Volunteers are the life-blood of Caitlin's Smiles. We could not function without the dedication of our wonderful volunteers!" commented Cheryl Hornung, founder and director of Caitlin's Smiles. Hornung started the organization in 2004 in memory of her seven-year-old daughter who lost her 3-year battle with cancer in 2000. "Caitlin would have loved what we are doing."
Volunteers will make craft kits, cheery greeting cards, or decorate gift bags to "bring smiles" to children with chronic or life-threatening conditions in hospitals and clinics in the Mid-Atlantic Region. These goodies are included in the "Bags of Smiles" sent by Caitlin's Smiles to over 100 healthcare facilities. In 2013, nearly 12,000 of these Bags were distributed in Pennsylvania and eight other states.
A Craft and Vendor Fair will be held simultaneously with the Volunteer Day. A bake sale and blood drive will also run throughout the day, as well as a Silent Auction of gifts donated by the crafters and vendors, plus other goodies. (Crafters and vendors wishing to sell should contact Caitlin's Smiles for more information.) Prizes will be raffled throughout the day.
People wishing to volunteer should register by calling or emailing Caitlin's Smiles at 717-412-4759 or email@example.com. Craft sessions will run in 2-hour periods from 10 am to noon, noon to 2 pm, and 2 to 4 pm.
The cost of admission is one craft item. Suggested crafts include: rubber bands (for "loom" bracelets), coloring books, Play-Doh, activity books (Sudoku, crosswords, word searches, etc.), pony beads, or zip-locking baggies (sandwich/snack).
December 3, 2013
Neighboring Charities Host Holiday Event
The holidays are about helping your neighbors, and nonprofit organizations Caitlin's Smiles and Channels Food Rescue are joining together for a Holiday Open House on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., to celebrate a successful year and further support the community with a donation drive. The Holiday Open House will be held at their neighboring locations on North Sixth Street in Harrisburg (at 3303 and 3305 North Sixth Street).
Both organizations wish to thank their sponsors, donors and volunteers for a year of generous giving. The offices of Caitlin's Smiles and Channels Food Rescue will be filled with holiday cheer, complete with refreshments, entertainment, door prizes, silent auctions, demonstrations and tours. All community members are welcome to attend the event.
For those wishing to donate this holiday season, both organizations have produced a list of needed items:
Caitlin's Smiles: Play-Doh®, markers, crayons, coloring or activity books, sketch pads for teens, macramé hemp, plastic lacing/gimp, embroidery floss, pencils, ink pens, pony beads, Ziploc® baggies in snack and sandwich sizes, and gift cards from area craft and office supply stores
Channels Food Rescue: Canned fish/meat/chicken, chili, stew, beans, soup (especially with meat), vegetables, tomatoes or tomato sauces, fruit, cereal, oatmeal (single servings), pasta, crackers, juice boxes (100% juice only) and granola bars (Please note that all donations should be nonperishable meal items in small cans or boxes – not glass containers; also, please do not provide condiments or sugary items.)
Caitlin's Smiles delivers arts and crafts kits to children facing chronic or life-threatening illnesses, and donations will be used to fill their Bags of Smiles craft packages. To date, Caitlin's Smiles has given more than 60,000 Bags of Smiles and more than a million craft kits to bring smiles to the faces of children. Channels Food Rescue collects perishable and non-perishable food and distributes it to member agencies such as homeless shelters and soup kitchens. Donations will be used for its canned food drive to help community members in need.
November 13, 2013
Fundraiser at Wendy's
Caitlin's Smiles will benefit from your purchases at Wendy's Restaurant on Tuesday, November 19 from 5 to 8 pm at their 3887 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA location. Ten-percent of all sales - counter and drive-through - during this time will be donated to Caitlin's Smiles. You can also make a greeting card for a hospital in the dining room. Let Wendy's handle your dinner on Tuesday night and help Caitlin's Smiles!
October 30, 2013
Come to the Barnes & Noble Bookfair
A one-of-a-kind Book Fair will kick-off this Friday, November 1, at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore at the Camp Hill Shopping Center benefitting Caitlin's Smiles.
The schedule of events for the Caitlin's Smiles Book Fair Kick-Off Day is:
1–3 pm – Stop by and make a card or craft kit for a child in the hospital. Check out the great craft books.
3:30–6 pm – Make your very own Rainbow Loom Bracelet with our NJHS helpers.
6 pm – Pajama Party & Story Time – wear your favorite PJ's bring your favorite stuffed animal! Make cards and decorate gift bags for hospitalized children.
All purchases made this day with the Caitlin's Smiles special Bookfair ID number 11213253 at the store or online will be counted toward a donation to the organization.
June 28, 2013
Knoebels Picnic and Silent Auction
Caitlin's Smiles will hold a Knoebels Picnic and Silent Auction fundraiser on Saturday, August 10, 2013, at the Elysburg amusement park.
A picnic lunch will be served from 11 am to 3 pm at Pavilion #1 for $5 per person. Tickets for the lunch must be pre-ordered. A Silent Auction will be held throughout the day. Knoebels Amusement Park is located at 391 Knoebels Blvd., Elysburg, PA 17824, just off Rt. 487, about a half-hour east of Sunbury.
To order your tickets, send checks payable to Caitlin's Smiles to: Caitlin's Smiles Knoebels Event, 3303 N. 6th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110, or call for more info: 717-412-4759. Or you can pay online using our Donation button – then email us your ticket order at firstname.lastname@example.com. Deadline: Orders must be received by August 2, 2013. Please include your name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and the number of lunch tickets you are purchasing at $5 each (children 2 and under are free.)
June 28, 2013
Now Accepting Artwork!
A Night of Smiles Art Benefit will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2013, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Camp Hill, PA. We are currently accepting donations of artwork from professional and amateur artists and craftpersons for our Silent Auction. Children who have received services from Caitlin's Smiles are invited to donate one of their wonderful creations for the live auction. A Night of Smiles art auction will provide beautiful memories for all those who attend this evening of touching stories, generous hearts and sweet creations. Tickets are $50 per person.
For more information on donating artwork to A Night of Smiles, email or call (717-412-4759) for more information.
May 14, 2013
The Great Pasta Sauce Cook-Off!
Join us at The Great Pasta Sauce Cook-Off! fundraiser on Saturday, July 27, 2013 from 4 to 7pm at the New Hope Church, 584 Colonial Club Drive in Lower Paxton Township. Enjoy tasting and voting for your favorite pasta sauces at this fun, family-oriented evening. Chefs - both professional and home-grown - are encouraged to enter their wonderful creations! Vote your favorite sauce and decorated booth. Check out our Silent Auction! Entry fee - $5 per sauce. Admission - $5 for adults, $3 for kids 10 and under, and free for kids under 3. All proceeds benefit Caitlin's Smiles in it's mission of bringing smiles to children with chronic or life-threatening condition through arts and crafts activities. For more information, call 717-412-4759 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
May 14, 2013
Summer Craft Tuesdays!
Caitlin's Smiles announces the addition of five craft kit-making sessions on Tuesday afternoons this summer: June11, July 9, July 23, August 6 and August 20, from 1 to 3 pm. These sessions will be held at the Caitlin's Smiles office at 3303 N. 6th Street in Harrisburg. Volunteers will make craft kits to be sent to children with chronic or life-threatening conditions. Kids and adults are welcome to volunteer; children age 13 and under must be accompanied by a parent or grandparent. Pre-registration is required: call 717-412-4759 or email email@example.com.
February 12, 2013
Save the Date for "A Round of Smiles" Golf Tournament
Plans are being finalized for our First Annual Caitlin's Smiles Golf Tournament, "A Round of Smiles," to be held Monday, May 20, starting at noon at the Armitage Golf Club, 800 Orrs Bridge Road, Mechanicsburg, PA. More details to come!
February 1, 2013
Register to Walk for Caitlin's Smiles
Register Now to Walk! Caitlin's Smiles is one of 42 organizations participating in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community. This annual fundraiser is underwritten by Highmark Blue Shield so that 100 percent of the funds raised go to the non-profit of your choice.
The 2013 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community will be held Saturday, May 18 at Harrisburg Area Community College.
Online registration is available NOW. Register as an individual, create a team or join a team. You can even create your own fundraising webpage and share it with family, friends and co-workers. Register today!
February 12, 2013
Join us for our Second Annual Zumbathon on Saturday, March 16, from 2 to 4 pm at New Hope Church, 584 Colonial Club Dr., Harrisburg, PA 17112. You can exercise your March blues away with eight wonderful instructors and look over the wonderful gift baskets at our Silent Auction. Cost: $15 + box of Ziploc baggies if you register and pay by March 9; $20 + baggies at the door. Free water and snacks will be provided. Payment options: mail check with your name, address, phone number, email to Caitlin's Smiles OR go to the Caitlin's Smiles website and use the "Donate" button to pay - just email us to say this is your Zumba registration money (bring your baggies to the Zumbathon).
February 11, 2013
BAM! Bookfairs
Caitlin's Smiles will hold bookfairs on Saturday, February 23 at Books-A-Million Bookstores in Harrisburg, Lancaster, York and Hanover from 2 to 6 pm. During those hours, shoppers will be offered a Caitlin's Smiles voucher. This voucher can be presented when making a purchase, giving Caitlin's Smiles 10% of the purchase price. Caitlin's Smiles volunteers will staff a display table and distribute the vouchers. BAM Book stores are located at the Paxton Towne Center (Harrisburg), the Park City Center (Lancaster), the North Hanover Mall, and the York Galleria. To volunteer at one of these bookfairs, go to here and choose the sign up sheet for the appropriate location.
February 11, 2013
First Annual Chili Cook-Off for Caitlin's Smiles
Come out to compete and eat on Sunday, March 10, at the First Annual Chili Cook-Off for Caitlin's Smiles from 1 to 4 pm at the Greater Harrisburg Area Realtors (GHAR) Building, 424 Enola Dr., Enola, PA. The cost is $5 to enter and 25¢ to vote. Awards will be given for the Best Chili and the Best Decorated Booth. All area chefs - pro and amateur - are encouraged to enter. Rules and registration forms can be found here.
February 4, 2013
Texas Roadhouse Fundraising Night
Enjoy entertainment and a delicious meal at Texas Roadhouse on Sunday, February 10, from 10 – 4 p.m., while raising money for Caitlin's Smiles, a local nonprofit organization that helps bring joy to children facing chronic or life-threatening illnesses through arts and crafts. Texas Roadhouse (at 3529 Union Deposit) will donate 10% of your total food purchases to Caitlin's Smiles when you print the invitation below.
November 16, 2012
Holiday Open House!
Caitlin's Smiles and Channels Food Rescue will join together for a Holiday Open House on Monday, December 10, 2012, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at their neighboring locations at 3303 and 3305 North Sixth Street in Harrisburg.
In an economy hard on charities, both organizations wish to thank their sponsors, donors and volunteers for a year of generous giving. Both Caitlin's Smiles and Channels Food Rescue will be filled with merriment, complete with holiday refreshments, door prizes, silent auctions, demonstrations and tours. For those wishing to donate this holiday season, the following are needed items: Play-Doh, markers, crayons, coloring or activity books, sketch pads for teens, macramé hemp, plastic lacing/gimp, zip lock baggies in snack and sandwich sizes and gift cards from area craft and office supply stores.
For more information, email Director Cheryl Hornung at email@example.com, or call 717-412-4759.
October 30, 2012
Caitlin's Smiles Firefighters Day!
Caitlin's Smiles is pleased to announce that the Susquehanna Rescue Firefighters in Harrisburg are hosting the annual Firefighters Day on Sunday, November 4, from 2 p.m. - 4:30 pm. This party is limited to children facing chronic or life-threatening conditions and their immediate families, and is limited to the first 15 families to register.
For more information or to register, email Director Cheryl Hornung at firstname.lastname@example.com, or call 717-412-4759.
September 28, 2012
Saturday Smiles starts October 6!
At the upcoming Caitlin's Smiles Family Day, held from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. on October 6, community members will have the opportunity to decorate craft kits, which are delivered to children in hospitals nationwide. To attend Family Day, held at Caitlin's Smiles offices at 3303 North Sixth Street, Harrisburg, Pa., all attendees must preregister by calling 717-412-4759.
Additionally, community members can attend the Saturday Smiles events at local stores throughout Central PA and decorate cards for sick children to help give them laughter, hope and smiles. This year, the following Saturday Smiles events will be held at:
- Boscov's at the Lebanon Valley Mall, Lebanon, on Saturday, October 13, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Macy's at the Harrisburg Mall, Harrisburg, on Saturday, October 13, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Boscov's at Park City Center, Lancaster, on Saturday, October 20, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Kids Games at Apple Festival at New Hope Church, Harrisburg, on Saturday, October 20, from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Boscov's at the Colonial Park Mall, Harrisburg, on Saturday, October 27, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Boscov's at the Camp Hill Shopping Mall, Camp Hill, on Saturday, October 27, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Community members can also attend the Saturday Smiles events in order to make monetary donations or to donate cans of Play-Doh to help fill "Bags of Smiles," which are arts and crafts bags provided to children in hospitals. It will take roughly 15,000 containers of Play-Doh to fill the Bags of Smiles this year alone, so every container that's donated is an important contribution.
August 21, 2012
Buy Tickets Now for
"A Night of Smiles"!
A Night of Smiles Art Benefit will be held on Saturday, September 29, 2012, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Camp Hill, Pa. Over 30 works of art promise to make our A Night of Smiles art auction a memorable time for all those who attend this evening of touching stories, generous hearts and beautiful creations. Tickets are $50 per person.
A silent auction will feature pieces by local artists. At 8 p.m., a live auction of artwork created by children who have received our services will be the highlight of the evening. Flora Posteraro of WHTM-TV will emcee the evening's festivities. Live music, themed gift baskets, great food and a cash bar will also be included.
To purchase tickets, call our office at 717-412-4759 or pay online through our "Donate Now" button on this website. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
March 6, 2012
Register NOW to walk for Caitlin's Smiles!
Register Warm up your walking shoes for Saturday, May 19 to walk for Caitlin's Smiles in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community 2012 at Harrisburg Area Community College. The first 100 walkers to register for us will receive a coupon for a Wendy's Hot and Juicey Single Combo and a coupon for a free one-sided house key from Hornung's Hardware (Harrisburg, Linglestown, Dauphin, Halifax).
You can choose between the 5K walk or the 1-Mile Fun Walk. Registration starts at 7:45 a.m. and the walk starts at 9:00 a.m.
Everyone who gets $25 in donations will receive a Highmark Walk t-shirt (while supplies last); $50 in donations, a Caitlin's Smiles lanyard; and $100, a Caitlin's Smiles t-shirt! So register now!
March 6, 2012
RACCy Olympics on April 27!
link RACC will host the second annual RACCy Olympics on Friday, April 27 on the Yocum Library lawn. The event benefits Caitlin's Smiles, which is a non-profit organization that supports seriously ill children in area hospitals by delivering bags of smiles.
The RACCy Olympics is an afternoon filled with crazy and unique games where teams of students and staff compete for an overall title. The teams also battle with fundraising challenges throughout the year.
Some of this year's fundraisers include selling coupon books, a student parking space raffle and a roller skating party. Faculty and staff are also supporting the cause with Dress Down Days.
After raising more than $17,000 last year, RACC has its sights set on a new goal of $18,000.
March 6, 2012
Training Night for Group Leaders on April 3rd
Caitlin's Smiles will hold a training night for leaders of groups who would like to make craft kits for hospitalzed children on Tuesday, April 3, 2012, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at our Harrisburg office at 3303 N. 6th Street.
"We have so many calls from organizations and businesses that want to help us out," said Director Cheryl Hornung. "We wanted to find a way to train the leaders of these groups to plan, organize, and run a successful craft kit-making session at their own meeting place."
Participants in this training night will learn about the mission of Caitlin's Smiles, the role of partnering organizations, how to prepare for a craft kit-making session, do's and don'ts, support materials, and delivering kits to Caitlin's Smiles.
This training night is open to all leaders and coordinators of civic groups, school groups, service organizations, and businesses. There is no cost, but registration is required.
For more information or to register, call 717-412-4759 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
March 6, 2012
Calling All CS Volunteers!
Plan to attend our first Volunteer Fair on Saturday, April 14, 2012, from 9 am to 1 pm, with registration open at 8:30 am, here at our office at 3303 N. 6th St., Harrisburg, PA 17110. Lunch is on us at noon! We are very excited to have Nancy Dering Mock, of Nancy Dering, Inc., as out keynote speaker. Hone your volunteer skills, meet other volunteers, and get some CS goodies!
Register today - email Kim at email@example.com or phone 717-412-4759.
January 17, 2012
Save the date for the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community!
Gear up for the Walk on May 19th at HACC in Harrisburg! Registration informaion will follow soon!
January 17, 2012
Training Night for Group Leaders on February 6
Caitlin's Smiles will hold a training night for leaders of groups who would like to make craft kits for hospitalized children on Monday, February 6, 2012, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at our Harrisburg office at 3303 N. 6th Street.
"We have so many calls from organizations and businesses that want to help us out," said Director Cheryl Hornung. "We wanted to find a way to train the leaders of these groups to plan, organize, and run a successful craft kit-making session at their own meeting place."
Participants in this training night will learn about the mission of Caitlin's Smiles, the role of partnering organizations, how to prepare for a craft kit-making session, do's and don'ts, support materials, and delivering kits to Caitlin's Smiles.
This training night is open to all leaders and coordinators of civic groups, school groups, service organizations, and businesses. There is no cost, but registration is required.
For more information or to register, call 717-412-4759 or email email@example.com.
January 4, 2012
Hoss's Fundraiser in Elizabethtown
Hoss's Steak and Sea House in Elizabethtown, PA, will host a fundraiser for Caitlin's Smiles all day on Wednesday, January 4, 2012. Hoss's will donate 20% of a guest's bill if they present a "Cow Cash Ticket." Tickets are available from Caitlin's Smiles in Harrisburg or by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com. Hoss's Steak and Sea House is located at 840 N. Hanover Street, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, one mile south of Route 283 on Route 743. Restaurant hours are 11 am to 9 pm. Phone: (717) 361-9402.
December 6, 2011
Jeweler Creates Necklace Dedicated to Caitlin
Jeweler and metal artist, Nancy Nelson, has created a truly unique necklace, dedicated to our Caitlin. "Feathers of an Angel" features a wing of copper, with a knotted feathered stitch, layered with small rutilated quartz beads threaded through the metal. A small copper tag with the word Smile hangs close to your heart. The necklace chain of oxidized sterling silver hangs 28" long; the wing is 2.5" long, with the 1" wide tag.
"The Feathers of an Angel Necklace is dedicated to a brave little girl named Caitlin, who left this world too soon but touched the lives of many. My wish for this necklace is that it weaves the message of remembrance, compassion, love, strength and peace to the wearer. " – Nancy Nelson
"Feathers of an Angel" sells for $72 and is made to order. A portion of all sales of this necklace will go to Caitlin's Smiles, a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing smiles and laughter with children facing chronic or life-threatening illnesses. To order, go to the Nancy Nelson Jewelry website.
November 17, 2011
Caitlin's Smiles at Boscov's
Caitlin's Smiles will be at two Boscov's stores on Saturday, December 3, 2011, from 11 am to 3 pm as a part of our Saturday Smiles event. Baked goods and hot dogs will be for sale at both the Camp Hill and Colonial Park stores. Supporters are asked to donate Play-Doh to help fill the Bags of Smiles sent to children in hospitals and clinics in the seven state region. Everyone can decorate bags and cards for kids in the hospital. For more information, contact Caitlin's Smiles at 717-412-4759.
November 17, 2011
Caitlin's Smiles at Coldwater Creek
Caitlin's Smiles will be at the Coldwater Creek store at The Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace on December 3, 2011, from 1 to 3 pm. Bid on silent auction items and decorate cards and bags for children in the hospital.
November 17, 2011
Holiday Open House with Channels!
Everyone is invited to our Open House on Tuesday, December 6, 2011, at our Harrisburg office. Enjoy the holiday merriment complete with refreshments (provided by Channels), door prizes, silent auctions, demonstrations, and tours. Decorate a card for a child! Also, visit our next-door-neighbor, Channels Food Rescue, for their Open House – same time!
November 17, 2011
Volunteers Needed!
We have several events in November and December for which we need helpers! Contact our office for more information: email@example.com.
October 24, 2011
Saturday Smiles on October 29
Caitlin's Smiles will be at two Boscov's stores this Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 11 am to 3 pm as a part of our Saturday Smiles event. Supporters are asked to donate Play-Doh to the organization at both the Camp Hill and Colonial Park Boscov's stores, to help fill the Bags of Smiles sent to children in hospitals and clinics in the 7 state region. Bags and cards will also be available to decorate, as well as a raffle fundraiser. For more information, contact Caitlin's Smiles at 717-412-4759.
October 24, 2011
End-of-Year Play-Doh Drive
Help Caitlin's Smiles meet its goal of raising 12,000 containers of Play-Doh by the end of 2011! You can bring your donations to Caitlin's Smiles office at 3303 N. 6th Street, Harrisburg, or any Hornung's Hardware store in Harrisburg, Linglestown, Dauphin, and Halifax.
Sponsored by PSECU, the Saturday Smiles fundraising events give adults and kids the opportunities to decorate cards and bags for their "Bags of Smiles," which are arts and crafts kits that are delivered to young patients in hospitals nationwide. Community members can also donate cans of Play-Doh to help fill the Bags of Smiles, make monetary donations or participate in a raffle to win a painting by a local artist. Caitlin's Smiles will be at two Boscov's stores this Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 11 am to 3 pm to conclude the Saturday Smiles mall events. Over 5900 cans and $5,000 has been collected so far!
September 14, 2011
Boscov's Friends Helping Friends Shopping Day - October 4!
Caitlin's Smiles is participating in the Boscov's Friends Helping Friends Shopping Pass. For $5, you can buy a Shopping Pass that will entitle you to 25% off your purchases on October 4, 2011 at all area Boscov's stores. To purchase tickets, stop by our office or call 717-412-4759.
September 1, 2011
Tickets on Sale Now!
Get your tickets now for "A Night of Smiles" Benefit Art Auction, October 1, 6 to 9 pm, at the Radisson Hotel in Camp Hill, PA! Admission is $50 a person to the Silent Auction of Professional Art and Themed Gift Baskets, the Live Auction of Children's Art at 8 pm, with live music, hors d'oeuvres, carving station, cash bar, and caricatures.
Send check to our office, or use the PayPal link on the website (and send an email or call us to let us know your PayPal is for the Auction!).
September 1, 2011
Calling All CS Volunteers!
If you have volunteered for us or if you would like to volunteer for us, plan to attend our first annual Volunteer Fair on Saturday, September 17, 2011, from 9 am to 1 pm, with registration open at 8:30 am, here at our office at 3303 N. 6th St., Harrisburg, PA 17110. Lunch is on us at noon! We are very excited to have Nancy Dering Mock, of Nancy Dering, Inc., as out keynote speaker.
You will get to know more about Caitlin's Smiles, meet other volunteers, and get some CS goodies! Email Kim today to register at firstname.lastname@example.com.
July 13, 2011
Knoebel's Grove Fundraiser
Caitlin's Smiles will hold a Knoebel's Day Fundraiser on Saturday, August 13, 2011, at the Elysburg amusement park.
A picnic lunch will be served from 11 am to 1 pm at Pavilion #1 for $5 per person. Reduced rate ride tickets are available at $2.50 for the first book , and $4.00 for additional books (normally $5). Tickets for both lunch and rides must be pre-ordered. A Silent Auction will be held throughout the day. Knoebel's Amusement Park is located at 391 Knoebels Blvd., Elysburg, PA 17824, just off Rt. 487, about a half-hour east of Sunbury.
To order your tickets, send checks payable to Caitlin's Smiles to: Caitlin's Smiles Knoebel's Event, 760 Fishing Creek Valley Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112, or call for more info: 717-599-5444. Orders must be received by August 7, 2011.
July 13, 2011
First-Ever Benefit Art Auction Scheduled
"A Night of Smiles" Art Auction will be held Saturday, October 1, 2011, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg Hershey in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, to raise funds and awareness for Caitlin's Smiles. Flora Posteraro, WHTM abc 27, will emcee. Several donations of artwork have already been received for the Silent Auction from local -- and not-so-local -- artists and include paintings, pottery, jewelry, and photographs.
In addition to the Silent Auction, a live auction of artwork created by children who have received goodies from Caitlin's Smiles will begin at 8:00 pm.
Live music, amazing food, and a cash bar will add to this very enjoyable evening.
Tickets will soon be on sale from our office for $50 per person. Sponsorships are available at several levels. For more information contact Cheryl Hornung at firstname.lastname@example.com.
April 15, 2011
Thank you to Reading Area Community College students who raised over $17,000 for Caitlin's Smiles at their RACC-y Olympics! Check out the photos on their website.
May 14, 2011
Thank you to everyone who walked for us or sponsored a walker in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community on Saturday, May 14 on City Island in Harrisburg. Together, we raised over $10,000!
2011 Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference
(DVCHC) Women's All Star Game Hockey Fans: Plan to attend the DVCHC Women's All-Star game, held at Giant Center on April 10th at 12:30pm. More info to follow. Visit their website.
Key Clubs Choose Caitlin's Smiles as the Youth Serving Youth Project!
Caitlin's Smiles was again chosen as the YSY Project for 2010/2011. Thanks to the PA Key Clubs! We couldn't have reached this many pediatric patients without you!
Check out the article on our website about the Lewistown Key Club winning three state awards for helping Caitlin's Smiles with their fabulous celebrity cookbook! Other clubs have done great fundraising projects such as powder puff football games, best smile contest ($1 a vote), principals sleeping on school rooftops, sports family nights, and many others. Keep up the great work!
Lewistown, PA Key Club wins three state awards helping Caitlin's Smiles
by Micaiah Wise Bilger
March 12, 2010 LEWISTOWN - The Lewistown Area High School Key Club students never thought when they were creating a celebrity cookbook that they would be the ones in the spotlight.
The student service club won three state awards for its single service project during the Pennsylvania Key Club convention on March 5 and 6 in Hershey.
"Obviously, we're really excited," said club president and LAHS senior Lauren Valdivia. "It's great the project got recognized."
In the fall, the club collected recipes and photos from celebrities and politicians around the country and published them in a cookbook to sell to the community. The funds raised from the sales were donated to Caitlin's Smile, an organization that provides arts and crafts kits to hospitals and financial support for terminally ill children and their families.
For their creativity, the club won first place for the single service project; they also won first place for the most money raised by a club and for the highest amount raise per member.
"We put a lot of work into it," Valdivia said. "But it was not hard to sell. There was a lot of interest."
Valdivia, club co-advisors Vicki Henry and Randy Fluke and other club members put a lot of their time into paperwork, Henry said. They applied for and receive a grant for the club and filled out applications to enter their service project in the state competition, she said.
The club sold all of its 250 copies of the cookbook, and they are considering a second printing, Valdivia said. Through selling the books and advertisements, the club raised $5,000 for Caitlin's Smile, she said.
To put it in perspective, Henry said the total amount state Key Clubs raised for the organization was $22,500.
"We're a small club," Henry said. "This shows that if you put your mind to it, you can do it."
Henry described Valdivia as an excellent president who oversaw and delegated duties to include all club members in the process.
The local project will be judged in the international Key Club convention in July, Henry said.
During the state convention, Valdivia met Cheryl Hornung, Caitlin's mother and founder of the organization, who invited the Lewistown club to visit their offices.
Henry, who also met Hornung, said: "She got the cookbook and just stood there. ... she was really thrilled and said, 'I want to meet with you.' It was a little emotional."
Other Key Clubs also paid the Lewistown group a compliment by asking if they could emulate the idea and create a cookbook of their own, Henry said.
Freshman Courtney Anastasi Foss, who attended the conference with Valdivia, said she attended several leadership seminars and gained ideas for club projects next year.
"I would like to see more kids come to the meetings," said Foss, who will be the club secretary next year, "and do more projects like cleaning up around Lewistown."
Pastor receives Jefferson Award for his work with Caitlin's Smiles
by Mary Klaus
October 30, 2009 - A minister who on Thursday received the Jefferson Award for Cumberland County for extraordinary public service sees himself as more of a matchmaker than a hero.
The Rev. Randy Barr of Hampden Twp., pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Dauphin for the past decade, said that he was "very surprised and honored" to receive the award sponsored by the United Way, WGAL and PSECU. The Jefferson Awards were presented at a banquet at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel.
The Jefferson Award for Public Service honors people for outstanding service to their communities.
Barr, a minister for 35 years, said he simply "tells stories and opens doors. People hear my stories. Some are empowered and encouraged by them."
Barr retired from his Lutheran ministry and pursued other interests for five years.
"It became clear to me that my heart was into service," he said. "God gave me the inspiration. So I went to the Lutheran bishop and said 'I want back in.' He offered to send me to the suburbs, but I wanted either Allison Hill or the boonies. So he offered me Dauphin. They looked me over and decided I was the right fit for them."
Lucretia Y. Crum, a member of his congregation, called Barr an inspiration who has led the church into a service ministry.
"Under his direction, many initiatives and missions have become the primary focus of our church life with Christ," she said. "Like the phoenix, we have risen from the ashes of a dying church to a vibrant and growing mission congregation."
This month, the congregation honored Barr with a church service, a celebration of his ministry and a luncheon. They gave him a memorial brick in his honor at the Lutheran World Relief Headquarters in Baltimore. His wife, Anne Reeves, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Red Lion, and their children also honored him....
Bringing Smiles to Kids' Faces
by Robyn Pasante
October 30, 2009 - Cheryl Hornung was stillwracked with grief over theloss of her 7-year-old daughter,Caitlin, when she made a fateful call toPenn State Hershey Children's Hospitalin December of 2000.
Caitlin had died of cancer in Octoberof that year, just before her 8th birthday.Her mother, a bargain shopper whosnatches something up when she seesa good deal, already had purchased herbirthday and Christmas gifts. "I calledPenn State Children's Hospital andasked if I could bring in all her pres-ents," says Hornung, of Middle PaxtonTownship. "And I saw what a differencethat made for the children."
Bringing smiles to sick kids gave Hor-nung a much-needed smile of her own.It also gave her a mission.
Three years later, Hornung startedCaitlin's Smiles, a nonprofit organizationthat supplies craft kits, art supplies andgift bags to kids with chronic and life threatening illnesses. It honors the legacyof a little girl who loved to do arts andcrafts and then give them all away.
"She used to spend all her time coloring pictures and giving them to all thenurses that came in the room," Hornungsays of Caitlin, who was diagnosed witha brain tumor in 1997 at the age of 4.More surgeries and hospital stays fol-lowed, and Hornung and her husbandmade sure Caitlin always had her back-pack of craft supplies with her to keepher distracted and happy.
"When she was an outpatient, she'dpass out smiley-face cookies and what-ever crafts she had that day to the otherkids, doctors and nurses," Hornungrecalls. "We found with her that healingwas as much mental as it was physical."
When Caitlin lost her battle, it wasHornung who needed to heal. She vol-unteered for the organizations that hadhelped their family during Caitlin's or-deal. But she kept thinking back to herdaughter's backpack of arts and crafts.
Finally, in 2004, she decided to takethe plunge. Progressive Education ofChildren in the Arts Network offeredto help her start the nonprofit Cait-lin's Smiles. When she stopped by herchurch, First Zion Lutheran Church inDauphin, to tell Pastor Randy Barr thenews, he immediately gave her the keysto an empty office in the church buildingto use as Caitlin's Smiles headquarters.
He also gave her a head start onsupplies. "He told me that he had 600boxes of markers in the back room thatsomeone had just donated to the churcha few days before," she says. "He said,'I'd like to keep one or two dozen forour Sunday school kids, but you cankeep the rest.'"
Barr, who is now on the nonprofit'sboard of directors, says the free officespace was a natural response to Hor-nung's idea. "It's a little church with abig heart," he says. "When people comeby and want to do good things, we say,'How can we help?'"
Hornung's little endeavor quicklygained steam, and she cultivated a cadreof volunteers to help her buy, pack anddeliver several different kinds of goodybags. There are age-specific Bags ofSmiles, which contain craft kits, Play-Doh, art supplies and a homemadecard. There are Arts and Crafts Kits forhospitals to keep on hand for kids whoare awaiting test results or getting bloodtransfusions. And there are Family CareKits that include a gas card, phone cardand local restaurant gift cards to make theexpense of caring for a sick child, some-times far from home, a little bit easier.
The organization relies on donationsof money and supplies, fundraisers, theoccasional grant and a lot of volunteers.In 2008, Caitlin's Smiles delivered morethan 70,000 Bags of Smiles and Arts andCrafts Kits to kids in hospitals up anddown the East Coast.
Mason Koppenhaver of Berrysburgwas one of the earliest recipients of aCaitlin's Smiles bag. Mason's mother,Heidi Koppenhaver, remembers the dayin July 2004 at Harrisburg Hospital whena hospital worker brought in a bag ofgoodies for Mason, who was not quite 4.The boy was getting prepped for his thirdsurgery that year, and nothing — not hisSpongeBob SquarePants blanket or hisparents' loving hugs — could take awayhis fears. "Then the child life specialistbrought in this bag and it was like heimmediately forgot why we were there,"Koppenhaver says. "I didn't even knowwhat was in the bag, I was just like,'Thank you so much.'"
Koppenhaver tracked down Hornungto thank her personally for the gift —and to become a Caitlin's Smiles volun-teer. "I don't think people realize, unlessthey have a child who's sick, just howmuch it means," Koppenhaver says.That has been among the biggestsurprises for Hornung.
"I am shocked daily," she says of theoutlet her organization gives to thosewho need to spread smiles, not just re-ceive one. "I saw my clients as just beingthe kids and families in the hospital. Andnow I see how important it is for peopleto get hooked up to a good cause and beable to give back."
In February, Caitlin's Smiles movedits headquarters to downtown Har-risburg because it had long outgrownits space at the church. Trying to makerent payments along with meeting everyrequest that comes in can be stressful,but Hornung says it's comforting to stayso connected to Caitlin, who would be17 now.
"Most of the time I really feel herpresence up there guiding me," Hor-nung says. "I know she'd say, 'Way togo, Mom. I love this!'"
Sharing Smiles
August 14, 2009 - When Mason Koppenhaver had a gastric tube inserted, he was confined to his hospital bed. The brightest spot in each day came from a book of puzzles in a Caitlin's Smiles gift bag.
"That was the most awesome thing because he looked forward to doing a different puzzle every day," said his mom, Heidi Koppenhaver of Berrysburg. "Something so simple, but it was new to him, and it took his mind off things."
Experts and parents such as Koppenhaver, whose 9-year-old son has had about 10 surgeries to treat a mysterious autoimmune condition, agree that activities and crafts help hospitalized children cope with treatment, develop normally, and experience routine in their disrupted lives. Cheryl Hornung of Middle Paxton Twp. founded Caitlin's Smiles in 2004, to honor her 8-year-old daughter who died from a brain tumor in 2000 and endured years of treatments with help from craft projects.
From Caitlin's Smiles' colorful and organized new space on Sixth Street, Susquehanna Twp., volunteers prepare age- and gender-appropriate activity bags and craft kits for about 70,000 hospitalized children and teens a year, Hornung said.
"Caitlin was into anything with glitter and glue and crayons," Hornung said. "In the hospital, it kept her occupied. We learned pretty quickly that healing is a mental process. Chemo and all the treatment wasn't that big a deal if she could color and hand out pictures."
Hospitalization can slow a child's developmental progress, said Debbie Waltermire of New Freedom, York County, an occupational therapy lecturer at Elizabethtown College.
"As the child's main occupation, they need to play, and Caitlin's Smiles is trying to give a normal play experience," Waltermire said. "Arts and crafts is a lot of what they do to develop those fine motor skills and visual skills."
Waltermire also speaks from personal experience because her son, now 9, was hospitalized as an infant and at age 7 for heart surgery.
"My gosh, they have something to do to pass the time," she said. "There's only so many movies and videos you can watch."
Caitlin's Smiles on the Move
March 1, 2009 - All in one!" "All on one floor!" Volunteers who walked up and down three flights of steps in Dauphin or drove across town to get supplies from storage units will soon be working from one place on one floor! As more and more pediatric hospitals, clinics and stand-alone units are requesting Bags of Smiles® and craft kits, the parish house of Zion Lutheran Church in Dauphin is bursting at the seams and three storage units are filled with books and supplies waiting to be repackaged and shipped to children.
A year-long search for new space has culminated with a lease for functional space at 3303 North 6th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Two offices, a conference room and a huge assembly and display area make up the street-side rooms of the multipurpose building which gets lots of natural light and is barrier-free. A door from the assembly area opens into the warehouse for easy inventory and "picking" of supplies for hospital orders to be processed and shipped from the front.
The joy of this move is tempered by the facts that we had free space, utilities and equipment at Zion. Now we need just about everything. Be sure to to check out our volunteer and donate pages. Then call or email to help. Thanks!
December 17, 2008
Lifting Kids' Spirits: Gifts help cope with life-threatening illness
by Daniel Victor
When she was in first grade, Claire Brobson worked to make life a little cheerier for kids who needed help. As part of a school project, she filled goodie bags with art and writing supplies for Caitlin's Smiles, a Dauphin-based charity that delivers presents to children with life-threatening illnesses in hospitals. Less than a year later, after learning she herself had leukemia, she got some smiles from the same program. Both times made her feel great, she said.
The goodie bag gave her a lift when she needed one, offering something entertaining to draw her focus from her illness. Claire, 8, has been writing fiction since kindergarten, creating characters such as Buddy, the dog who opened a store. It's easy to get bored during long, tough days at the hospital, so she was thrilled to get the supplies she needed for her stories. "It's kind of a lifesaver, especially for those long clinic days," said her mother, Lauren Brobson. Caitlin Hornung felt the same way about the care packages her mother would bring her in the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center when she battled a malignant brain tumor. After Caitlin died in 2000, just before her 8th birthday, her mother, Cheryl, began bringing gifts she had intended for to her daughter to other children at the medical center. Cheryl Hornung soon started buying more supplies and giving them to more children. Four years ago, she was handing out 10 bags of goodies per month Caitlin's Smiles, a nonprofit organization, was created.
Now, backed by a network of volunteers, she's giving out 400 to 500 per month to dozens of hospitals in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland. But while the demand is there, the effort is running out of room to grow. All the supplies are stacked in small rooms in the second and third floors of the Zion Lutheran Church in Dauphin. It's a claustrophobe's nightmare, as boxes are stacked upon boxes. There's almost no room to walk, and a makeshift labeling system does its best to keep order. Hornung said the organization needs warehouse space to keep the supplies, making it easier to distribute the gifts and enabling them to buy supplies in bulk. The hope is that someone will offer a warehouse or enough money to rent one, because the donations, small-scale fundraisers and occasional grants won't cover the additional expense. "This is really a grassroots operation," Hornung said. "What goes in determines what goes out." The cluttered office has stacks of crayons, markers, journals, books, beads, toys, glitter and all sorts of other supplies that hospitals can't always provide. Hornung hopes she can give out more. "I just kept thinking how happy Caitlin was if she just had pointed crayons and a coloring book," she said.


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- Lissa Clouser said...
I like the little video for this! I've lost track of how many times I have watched and listened to Neil Gaiman's speech... such lovely advice and delivered so very well.
- 12:33 PM, May 03, 2013
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text:
Posted January 21, 2013 on
AP on Fox
Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose could soon be going through full-contact drills in practice.
Coach Tom Thibodeau says Rose is ''very close'' to doing just that and it'll be ''the next step'' in his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Asked if it could happen this week, Thibodeau responded, ''Yeah - it could.''
Is it scheduled to happen this week? The Bulls' coach repeated, ''It could.''
Thibodeau says Rose will have to go through full-contact drills ''for an extended amount of time'' and that he won't be playing after ''one or two days of contact.''
While Rose inches closer to making his season debut, the Bulls were without Luol Deng (sore right hamstring) Monday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Original Story:
Derrick Rose's Son Already Dunking
Rose to return to full contact practice?
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose may participate in full contact practice this week, meaning his return to NBA game action might not be too far off.
Derrick Rose Possibly To Return In February
Rose getting close to full-contact drills
Bulls G Rose steps up contact work in practice
If Derrick Rose is able to bloom in 'The Windy City,' the Chicago Bulls can win their first Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy since 1998
Derrick Rose Cleared For 'More Contact'
Rose's Next Step: Being cleared for full contact
Funny tweets about Mike D'Antoni and the Lakers
Thibodeau Explains Reasoning Behind Noah Benching
Joakim Noah Benched Late In Bulls OT Loss To Grizzlies
Lakers-Bulls Preview
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text: Oct. 6, 1997 Hemlepp Snags Rookie of the Week Honor AgainTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State volleyball outside hitter Kate Hemlepp has been selected the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie-of-the-Week, marking the third time this season the Boca Raton, Fla., native has earned the honor. Hemlepp helped lead Florida State to conference victories over previously unbeaten Clemson and Georgia Tech last weekend. She finished the week with 27 total kills, and a .333 hitting percentage in starting both matches and playing in all eight games. Against Clemson, the 5-11 freshman recorded a double-double with a season-high 14 kills and 10 digs while registering three blocks. In the Georgia Tech match, Hemlepp tallied five service aces. Florida State is 15-2 overall and 3-1 in the ACC and continue action at Virginia and Maryland this weekend. |


text:
Opened 4 years ago
Last modified 23 months ago
#6168 new enhancement
Timeline RSS feed should show Component name in subject
Reported by: | rjollos | Owned by: | otaku42 |
Priority: | normal | Component: | TracHacks |
Severity: | normal | Keywords: | |
Cc: | Trac Release: | 0.10 |
This was discussed recently on either the trac-hacks mailing list or trac-users.
Tickets in the RSS feed have subjects such as:
Ticket #6074 (enhancement updated): Add way to exclude sets of pages
It would be much more efficient if I could review the RSS feed each day for components that were of interest to me by looking at just the subject lines. I could then even setup filters to extract what is relevant to me. This would be accomplished by a subject line such as:
Ticket #6074: ListOfWikiPagesMacro: (enhancement updated): Add way to exclude sets of pages
ListOfWikiPagesMacro: Ticket #6074: (enhancement updated): Add way to exclude sets of pages
(I arbitrarily chose the ticket to use for this example.)
See also #1151.
Attachments (0)
Change History (2)
comment:1 Changed 4 years ago by rjollos
- Component changed from SELECT A HACK to TracHacks
- Owner set to otaku42
- Trac Release changed from 0.11 to 0.10
Forgot to set the Component ...
comment:2 Changed 23 months ago by rjollos
Related to #10003.


text:
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(Photos Provided by FBI Indianapolis Field Office)
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text:
It's that time again! The Dragon Boat Festival, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar is coming up soon (June 19 on the Gregorian calendar for 2007). Got some fresh duck eggs at the farmer's market about 8 weeks ago to salt. Beats buying salted eggs which has not been very reliable; quite a few of mine had double yolks!
I am making Joong/Zonzi (Chinese sweet rice tamale), the traditional festival food, in observance of the holiday. There are many variations, but I make a pyramidal shaped tamale with salted duck egg yolks, salt pork, Chinese sausage, dried shrimp, mung and black-eye beans, chestnuts, peanuts, and mushroom filling. Keeps in refrig for weeks and frozen for months. I am ready to feed the two-legged dragons!
It's almost time for Dragon Boat Festival 2013 (June 12). Is anyone else making Joong/Zongzi this year? If so, what are your fillings? I ordered a joong mold from The Wok Shop last year and I haven't used it yet. I'm hoping that this year (for once) I'll have pretty joong to share with friends and family. Usually I have fairly misshapen bundles hideously wrapped with an excess of string - hardly gift-worthy. (But very tasty, nonetheless). The joong mold can be seen here: http://www.wokshop.com/HTML/products/...
re: MrsPatmore
MrsPatmore: I went to a joong making workshop a week or 2 ago. There were a couple of those molds in use. Some were fairly successful with it, but I believe that those of us forming them with just our hands did ok. As you said, not as pretty but they taste good!
By the way, in this thread there is an extensive tutorial written by CYL that is excellent. As he has passed on, this post is irreplaceable (to me anyway).
For me, the filling includes (I get little carried away:
Rice (of course, we use short grain like Kokuho Rose)
Salted egg yolk (duck or chicken)
Lop cheung
Salted or five spice pork belly chunks
Split yellow mung beans
Raw peanuts
Shitake slices (dry, reconstituted)
Cooked chestnutsP.S. If anyone has tried processing them in a pressure cooker, I'd love to hear what you did... Tks
re: RWCFoodie
I would not recommend using short grain or a medium grain rice such as Kokuho Rose. You need to use glutinous rice for the body to hold together and to have the chewy, dense texture. I have heard that some producers mix in some non-glutinous rice in order to hold down costs, but I'd consider that adulteration.
re: RWCFoodie
I'm envious that you were able to attend such a workshop, RWC! Like you, I prefer a lot of goodies inside the joong, and my ingredient list is similar to yours (however, I use glutinous rice not regular short grain). I have not tried a pressure cooker but based on the comments of others (below), I may try it this year!
It's almost here again. Dragon Boat Festival 2012 is June 23. I practiced joong wrapping today. I'm not very good at doing this by hand, as you can see by my photo. But they were delicious nonetheless. I'll try to find (or construct) a joong mold such as the one shown in your photos. Thank you for sharing your recipe and technique. This information was very helpful!
PS Found this mold for sale online: http://wokshop.stores.yahoo.net/chtam...
does anyone know of a dark leaf spice that is mixed with the pork in the joong. it's something my grandmother used . I found a package called "dried seasoning material" but can't read the label to see what it actually is.. I think it is an old fashioned spice used ( not Five Spice)
I made some joong 2 weekends ago. So much work! and we only did about half a batch, so about 40 joong. I got into a debate with my mother about how much rice we needed to soak to make x amount of joong. We ran low on rice! it was horrible, so our last 10-15 joong had tons of lieu and not so much rice.
Any suggestions about prepping the leaves? I kind of did a mix of 2 methods, soaking the night before of course, and then the next day I just boiled them in hot water. But I found after, when we were boiling the joong the leaves had some strange stuff on it... and the water after we were done boiling the joong was VERY dark so I feel like the leaves weren't super clean.
This is something I've wondered about for years. Nobody in my family makes them in a pyramid, nor do any of my mother's friends. The shape they all use is hard to describe, but is sort of a rectangle that has a 90-degree twist in it. Mom never made them herself, but I understand that the technique of filling/shaping them uses no molds, and it is entirely hand-held.
Could the difference in shape be a regional difference? Mom's family (as well as all the friends) have roots in Toishan.
re: ricepad
There may be regional differences but I cannot tell you what they are. There are many ways to wrap the tamale and as many different variations on the filling, salting the duck eggs, preparing the leaves, etc.. There is not a single right way or a single wrong way to do it. We Cantonese (I visited the Toishan, Hoi Ping, and Yen Ping ancestral villages on my trip to China) call it a joong. Others call it a Zongzi or Jundzi and others. In all my wanderings in S. F. Chinatown and around the S. F. bay area, I have seen salty joongs of different shapes, but I have seen the pyramidal shape most often. Ironically, when I was first taught how to wrap one, it was with two leaves and the shape was similar to as you described. However, because I have encountered so many other joongs that were pyramidal in shape, when I did decide to make a mold to help me wrap joongs, I built the pyramid with the rectangular solely based on observations and instincts. I wrapped my joongs with four leaves. It just seems, in studying the unwrapping of purchased joongs, that that was what was needed for that size and shape of joong. Later on, my sister-in law told me of a stainless steel mold used in Honolulu and sent me one. By sheer coincidence, the shape and dimensions of my wood mold and the stainless steel one matched one another almost identically! The pyramid is not uncommon. Wei-Chuan's cook book, ("Chinese Snacks") shows pictures of her sweet and salty "Jungdz." They are wrapped by hand with two leaves and look like pyramids with a square base. Grace Young ("The Wisdom Of The Chinese Kitchen") shows wrapping by hand with two leaves into a "tight pyramid." Johnny Kan ("Eight Immortal Flavors") described it as a "pyramid-shaped tamale." Shapes and wrapping aside, what is most important is what is inside the joong and how good it taste!
re: CYL
You are right the shape is not important but what is in the Joong itself.
The regional you have roots in will account for the ingreidents you use.
Toishan will use peanuts while those from Chungshan will use Ming beans.
I too have a wooden mold which allows me to make a larger Joong. Since for the most part the size of one's hand use determine the size of Joong.
Some items I like to put into our Joong are
Lop Chong
Salted Side Pork
Dried Shrimp
Dried Scallops
Salted Egg Yolk
MIng Beans
Peanuts (Since my sons like peanuts their Mother used to put into the Joong)
And whatever we have in the house.Our mold is on the large size and we made a double size Joong. One large enough for two normal size Joong. Love a lot of goodies inside our Joong.
re: yimster
Made some joong yesterday with my Mother and sister ..... I missed out on the prep but I'm finally getting the wrapping concept down ...... and I have a better idea about the tieing technique. We do the pyramid shape ...... the shape doesn't really matter on one level but I find it a pleasing shape when skillfully done that adds a little extra enjoyment. I'm boiling them right now - will add pictures when I'm done.
re: gordon wing
Gordon, it may help if you are not used to tieing technique a good short cut is to cut three or so shorter strings to tie around the joong to start and hold it shape before you do the major wrapping rotating of the string.
Also when we use to make a lot of joong with ingredients asked for by family we would tie together four joongs with a colored string so that we would know the filling. Small pieces of colored string will not color the water.
Hope to heard about yours. Will have my last one tomorrow night for dinner. Two a year is just prefect for me now. As a family we used be a joong factory not now.
re: yimster
Here are some pictures ....... I'm saving the best looking ones for gifts. I didn't put as much rice in as my Mom does ..... was thinking that it might be easier to wrap & tie them if they weren't overfilled. But I think a bit more rice would be good .... my Mother and Grandmother believe that the rice should stay white ...... no dark soy used in flavoring the filling ingredients. Peanuts are soaked so that the skins don't stain the rice, etc ....... The pork we use is a bit lean for my taste but since I'm not doing the prep I am fine with it.......maybe I'll bring over some pork belly next year? the colored string is a good idea, Lambert - I'll remember that for next time.
Great post CYL and very timely indeed! Our group (ACCT) is holding a joong making class on 6/16! It would be great to find those metal molds here on the mainland - any ideas where or could you get the name of the mfg. and the store they came from in Hawaii?
re: RWCFoodie
Hi Karen -
I am not confident that the stainless steel mold is still available. I got it from from my sister-in-law in Honolulu and it has been years ago, but will write again and inquire. My old wooden mold which I had first was up to the task. They both do equivalent jobs.
fig 1 - My old home made wood mold, the original
fig 2 - Molds side-by-side, the new mold more matches the stainless steel in my kitchen!-
re: RWCFoodie
There is a joong mold referred to in the Hawaiian Electric web site below with a phone number. This might possibly be the mold that my sister-in-law in Honolulu got for me years ago. There is no picture shown of it. I think the web site may be rather old - 1999 vintage.
CYL, what an interesting post. My mom used to make these when I was growing up and I know I might be biased, but they were the best! Very tasty. She always said her trick was she added more flavor to her pork bits. Also, she made hers in the cone shape that you do but without a mold. She just did the traditional way of creating a cone shape with her hands by folding two pieces of bamboo leaves to create a cone like an ice cream cone, then she adds the filling and then finally folds the ends of the leaves to cover up and then tie up with strings. She became quite an expert in it.
Re: Recipe and wrapping method, continued
Proceed to place ingredients into mold. When ingredients are in and just slightly above the level of the mold, fold leaves from the sides to wrap tightly over the base of the joong followed by folding the ends of the leaves tightly over the base. Push down on the base to make sure all ingredients fill into the mold solidly with no voids. Turn mold upside down and push down firmly on joong flat against tabletop, again to make sure that the ingredients are packed solidly into the pyramidal shape. Make several loops with string on one end, run diagonally on the base to the other end. Make several loops on the other end and run a cris-crossing diagonal back to the original end. Make one loop and repeat diagonals cris-crossing the base a couple of times and tie knot to secure – not too tight, joong expands when boiled later.
Place joongs in large stock pot or canner, fill with water and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 4 hours. Check frequently and add more water to continue simmering, as necessary.
fig 5 - Fill with goodies, wrap sides and ends over base
fig 6 - Tie with string to secure joong and done
fig 7 - Boil joong in stockpot
fig 8 - Ready to feed the dragons -
Re: Recipe and wrapping method
I have a WORD file of the recipe containing 10 pictures. I cannot post it in one posting, so I will post it piecemeal. I can apparently only post four pictures at a time.
I stated making joong via the cone-shaped funnel entirely by hand. The joongs that I used to buy are pyramidal in shape. I got the idea of making a mold out of wood some time ago. I have gone thru molds mod 1, 2, and 3. My latest mold, mod 3, a stainless steel stamped mold, came via my sister-in-law in Honolulu is very nice. I have however not seen one like it elsewhere locally. My old wooden mold that I made does do the same job.
The following recipe makes 10 joongs:
2 1/2 lbs Nor Mai (glutinous, sweet rice)
1 tbsp Vegetable oil
2 tbsp Salt1/2-3/4 lb Salt pork or belly pork, brined
40 Bamboo leaves (4 leaves/joong)
Do not try to use leaves with splits – discard!Per Joong Total
4 Slices Dried Shitake Mushroom 40
3 Chestnuts 30
12 Peanuts 120
3 tsp Mung beans 30 tsp
1 tsp Black eye beans 10 tsp
2/3 Lop Cheong (cut into 1/3 lengths) 6-7
1 Salted duck eggs 10
1 1/2 tsp Dried shrimp 15 tsp
1 piece Salt pork (cut approx 2" x 1") 10 piecesPreparations before wrapping Joong:
Fill a large stockpot with water. Add 1 tsp of baking powder or 1/4 cup of vinegar. Add bamboo leaves and bring to a boil. Let boil for 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool. Brush each leaf softly with brush to clean. Rinse thoroughly. Return leaves to pot, fill with water, and boil for another 5 minutes. Drain. Fill pot with clean water and allow leaves to soak until time to wrapping joong.Wash rice thoroughly and cover with 2 – 3 inches of water. Soak overnight. Drain well. Add vegetable oil and salt to rice and mix thoroughly.
Place peanuts, mung beans, black eye peas, mushrooms, and dried shrimp in a separate bowl, add water, wash, and soak in new water overnight.
Salt pork pieces can be made from belly pork. Remove the skin. Soak pork in brine solution consisting of dissolving 1/4 cup of table salt to one quart (4 cups) of water overnight. Rinse pork after soaking prior to use.
Wrapping Joong:
Use a joong mold to assemble and wrap joong.Lay two leaves longitudinally along the sides of the mold slightly off the apex. Make sure the leaves overflow the sides of the mold enough to allow wrapping the leaves inward and over the back later. Next, fold two bamboo leaves into the apex of the mold (fold ends of leaves together in half; fold corner of base from the center at 45 degrees to form cone of pyramid – see figure 4).fig 1 - Ingredients for filling
fig 2 - Pyramidal stainless steel mold
fig 3 - Set 2 leaves forming sides
fig 4 - Add 2 leaves forming top of joong -
Re: salting eggs -
I do not have any big secret or exacting technique as to brining eggs. I can appreciate that there are many variables. Let me simply start telling what I did. The concentration of salt I use was 1 pound of table salt to 6 cups of water. I boiled the water, put in the salt until it is dissolved. I had a dozen duck eggs and they were big – almost about twice the size of a chicken egg. I used an old mayonnaise glass jar. I put the eggs in and added all the solution to the jar. I think there was still ullage left on the top of the jar. About a month later, I took one egg out, and tested it by making steamed salt egg pork patty. It was good, so I concluded that the eggs were adequately done. Assuming that I could not do any harm to the eggs, I left the eggs in the brine longer until now, about two month's time total. I waited until it was close enough time to make Joong for the Dragon Boat Festival. Again, the salted eggs seem to be good.
The old trick to test for when the salt solution concentration is not initially too low is to add a raw potato and test for flotation. If the potato does not float, one is suppose to add more salt until the potato does floats. I did not take the effort to apply the test.
I did not mess around with volumetric amounts of salt or used kosher salt or rock salt or any other form of salt, realizing that their densities were lower due to larger crystal sizes. The mayonnaise jar (gallon plus?) has a fixed volume. I made a fixed amount of solution. The volume occupied by the eggs took up an additional volume. The size of the jar seemed compatible in allowing me to pour the entire 6 cup brine solution into it. Does the amount of the solution in comparison to the volume of eggs make a difference? What about soaking time? Does the action of salting works fast initially and then slows down? It would seem logical that a longer soaking would really gets diminishing returns towards the end. In the home, one practically salts about a dozen eggs at one time and does it in about a gallon size jar or crock. The eggs are soaking for about one month. The concentration of 1 pound of salt to 6 cups of water apparently did the trick for me without the potato test. The process of salting eggs likely has a wide tolerance and is a somewhat forgiving procedure.
re: CYL
This is the method I use http://www.lilligren.com/homestead/du...
Great thinly sliced with tomatoes, Filipino style, or in congee. Can also use them in stir-fry dishes, like with bitter melon or si gua (loofah / snake gourd).
Those look beautiful--they're so uniform, too. If you have a recipe for it that isn't too long, could you share?
Hi CYL, could you talk more about making salted duck eggs? I have a vague childhood recollection of instructions along the lines of adding salt to the brine until a potato floats. Perhaps you have a more precise recipe.
Also, it might be instructive to describe how to wrap and fold the leaves to make the pyramid shaped joong.


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Boyd Huppert (left) 2013 UW-River Falls Distinguished Alumnus with Provost Fernando Delgado (right).
Many colleges and universities across the nation have had a long tradition of honoring those of its graduates who have distinguished themselves in various ways throughout their careers. The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Distinguished Alumnus Award was established in 1959. The first recipient was Dean Smith, a physician from La Crosse, WI. It was presented at the commencement ceremonies in June 1959.
The Distinguished Alumnus Award continues to be the most prestigious acknowledgment of the accomplishments of our alumni. The criteria for being considered for the Distinguished Alumnus award are:
Once an individual has been nominated for this award, they remain in contention. Each year nominations are sought by the External Relations Committee from alumni, and from faculty and staff who may know of a deserving alumnus. Alumni are encouraged to nominate anyone they feel meets the criteria for selection, even themselves.
The External Relations Committee asks that you submit your nominations to the Alumni Office, 310 South Hall, River Falls, WI. If you have any specific questions, please contact Dan McGinty in the Alumni Office at (715) 425-3505.


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Family festival including games, food and a silent auction.
There will be a parent coffee this morning with Mr. Vasquez in the Library.
Due to the bad weather on our Walk-a-Paw'n day in September. We will be doing our Walk today.
Drama classes for students will encourage teamwork, develop speaking skills and give the students an opportunity to rehearse each week.
We learn, we build, we play with Legos! Explore engineering, architecture, teamwork and problem solving with these hands on classes.
4th and 5th grade students are learning to create videos that will be used as public service announcements for the morning broadcast (K-DOG).
Students learn cheers and chants to cheer for Helotes events.
Helotes Fire Department will visit the PE classes to talk about fire safety.
Scholastic Book Fair will be open in the school library.
Monday - Thursday: 7:30-3:30 Friday: 7:30-12:00
Students will have the opportunity to participate in Bike Rodeo events with their grade level.


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