A Centre County-based nonprofit’s mission to bring comfort to children in the hospital through boxes filled with toys and activities already reached all 50 states and Canada, and now it has extended to New Zealand.

The Jared Box Project is now bringing joy to pediatric patients at two Auckland hospitals, thanks to a volunteer with first-hand knowledge of the solace the boxes can provide.

Through the efforts of Sarah Beckman and her family, 70 Jared Boxes were donated for patients at the Starship and Middlemore children’s hospitals. Currently living in New Zealand, Beckman carried with her the memory of when her 18-month-old son was hospitalized with norovirus at Mount Nittany Medical Center one Christmas, and the unexpected Jared Box he received while in the emergency department.

For nearly 25 years, volunteers have been making Jared Boxes to give to children in emergency and in-patient rooms, surgical centers and clinics.

The project began in 2001 at Our Lady of Victory School in State College as a way for children to honor classmate Jared McMullen, who was diagnosed with an incurable brain stem tumor at age 5 in 1999. He brought a backpack full of toys and games to all of his medical appointments and shared them with other children.

Jared died in November 2000, but the inspiration he gave to others has lived on. His classmates initially made 81 Jared Boxes for patients at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville. Soon after, other community groups started making Jared Boxes and the project has been going strong ever since, garnering national recognition and surpassing 1 million boxes delivered in 2023.

“Seeing Jared Boxes cross oceans is a powerful reminder that kindness knows no borders,” Cindy Kolarik, executive director of The Jared Box Project, said. “We’re thrilled to see smiles reaching New Zealand, thanks to Sarah and her family’s incredible dedication.”