Girls’ baskets cheer up cancer patients

Cayla Moritz was wise beyond her 9 years. The youngster began a collection campaign to make the lives of chemotherapy patients a little brighter.

Kristi O’Harran / The Herald

Taylor Morrell (left), 9, and Cayla Moritz, 9, created 100 gift baskets for people undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Cayla’s mother, Kim Moritz (center), is a teacher at her school, Machias Elementary in Snohomish.

Her grandfather died of prostrate cancer. Her grandmother, Lisa Thacker, 70, is suffering from ovarian cancer. And her great aunt, Adeline Rochon, 68, has inoperable lung cancer. Both are being treated in Everett.

Cancer: The word is spoken in sad tones at the Moritz’s Snohomish home. Cayla learned about chemotherapy and knew it could make people sick. She decided if she made gift baskets for patients, maybe it would make them feel better.

She is a child of action.

With a friend, Taylor Morrell, also a fourth-grader at Machias Elementary School, they collected gift items and containers for 100 “Baskets of Hope” to be delivered by the end of February. The children began by contacting stores and received donations of candy, lip balm, pencils, sewing kits and day planners.

Taylor’s young life also was stung by cancer. Her grandfather died of the disease, and her other grandfather has cancer. She said one young boy at her school has cancer, and she treats him like a friend.

Cayla read “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and came up with the basket idea.

“I thought if they got something nice like a basket, they might feel better,” she said. “I think they will feel great thinking somebody out there cares.”

The girls want to assemble more baskets and are looking for more gifts such as crossword puzzles, reading material, scarves, hats, hand warmers, mints, pens, socks, hot chocolate mix, candy bars and popcorn. The students had the help of Cayla’s mother, Kim Moritz, a fourth-grade teacher at Machias, who has another daughter, Breaz, 11, attending the same school.

“I was fortunate enough to get hired on at Machias the same year my oldest daughter, Breaz, started kindergarten here,” Kim Moritz said. “It is so nice having the girls here. I love it because I get to be involved in their education and know what exactly is going on.”

She said she is proud of her girls and happy to help Cayla with Baskets of Hope. If anyone would like to donate items or cash, mail to Kim Moritz, Machias Elementary School, 1231 147th Ave. SE, Snohomish, WA 98290. For more information, call Moritz at 360-563-4848.

Moritz’s mother, who was diagnosed five years ago, already got her basket. “She has been a fighter through all of this,” Moritz said. “She is a real inspiration.”

Cayla said they include a message on a heart inside each basket. Messages read simply “Happiness,” “Peace,” “Strength” or “Vision.” Both girls want to thank everyone who has donated to the campaign.

It’s amazing how folks helped a good cause and how a couple of wonderful girls learned the value of community service.

Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.

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