Let’s celebrate Katie’s graduation with a great driveby! Katie is always looking for ways to give back. Help us make this event a HUGE success for Katie Haynes! She would like those who drive by to bring toys and items for young adults/teens.
The items she collects will be donated to WakeMed Children’s Hospital and her project Smiling While Sending Hope! SWSH benefits people with chronic illness and special needs! Can’t make the event? No problem. There are other ways to help! You can donate via Go Fund Me or Amazon Wish List! The Amazon wish list will ship straight to Katie’s doorstep! You can also use it as a guide for shopping locally and donating at the drive-by.
WHEN Saturday, May 1, 2021, from 2 PM to 3:30 PM
VENUE HAS CHANGED TO Tar River Elementary School 2642 Philo White Road, Franklinton, NC 27525
ABOUT KATIE
Katie Haynes is from Youngsville, NC. She is 21 years old, and a sophomore at Southern New Hampshire University Online studying to become a professional photographer. Her dream job is to one day work for Walt Disney World® or NASCAR®. Katie was a runner before getting sick, along with being super involved in other activities. She is a proud alumni member of FFA and 4-H today. She has 21 chronic illnesses/disorders/conditions that include POTS, EDS Type 3, MCAS and CRPS, giving Katie a first-hand understanding of the challenges that people with chronic diseases experience. Her personal perspective, and desire to make a positive impact on others’ lives, drives Katie to give back and help others!
HOW SMILING WHILE SENDING HOPE WAS BORN
About 7 years ago, after a little boy at my church named Paxton passed away, Katie got involved with a toy drive called “Presents for Paxton” for UNC Hospital. This inspired her to create a project for bringing joy to kids and teens while they face big obstacles in their lives—during chemotherapy treatment, transplant surgery, and other serious health challenges. In December 2015, Katie launched Smiling While Sending Hope (SWSH), sending smile packages and VOGMASK® masks to people fighting chronic illness. She created Smiling While Sending Hope Facebook and Instagram pages in January 2017 to help grow her project. In August 2018, she began sending sensory packages for people with special needs as well. Katie was honored in 2019 as the Me Fine Foundation “Hero For Life” recipient. She loves giving back! During this time, Katie’s mission has come alive through awareness videos, toy drives, and smile package/mask deliveries with outreach across NC, VA and Ohio hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses! Social media has allowed her to search out people’s stories that speak to her heart, and to post on groups she is a part of. This allows her to reach as many people as possible. Due to cost and attempting to personally meet each of the warriors in some way, she likes to keep it local for her smile packages at least!
GOALS FOR KATIE’S MISSION
Katie’s goals are to bring smiles to people’s faces and to help spread awareness to all about how life-altering illnesses and diseases can affect us. She wants to shine light on what sick people can do, not focus on their illnesses and limitations. She knows, despite of their challenges, they need help adapting to living differently in order to meet their goals. Be that light!
THANKFUL AND BLESSED
Meeting people face-to-face has been a challenge in 2020 but, in spite of the pandemic, it was still a VERY successful year. Katie is thankful for each and every one who made it such an amazing year! She can’t wait to see where 2021 and beyond leads her, and her project!
GO FUND ME gf.me/u/znf82q SWSH
AMAZON WISH LIST (Use the list to order/ship directly to Katie, or shop locally and drop off.) https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/RQJJL44S2YSO?ref_=wl_share SWSH
FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/SmilingWhileSendingHope/
SWSH/KATIE HAYNES YOUTUBE CHANNEL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY2-EcXUQQG0SPtcpscoRLQ
KATIE’S BRAVE MEDICAL JOURNEY: https://www.facebook.com/KatiesBraveMedicalJourney101