Sunrise Day Camp-Pearl River

Enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers bring joy and play to the outpatient waiting and infusion sites at area hospitals, creating a camp-like atmosphere filled with FUN!  The Sunrise on Wheels Pearl River program has achieved great success over the past six months and has served more than 300 children this year.

In April 2014, Sunrise Day Camp Pearl River initiated its first Sunrise on Wheels Program at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center.  A few months later in July 2014, the Wheels program rolled into New York- Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital's outpatient setting, and we anticipate that Sunrise on Wheels will be bringing smiles to children at Hackensack University Medical Center in Winter/Spring 2015. We are very excited about our new endeavors in the hospitals and appreciate their wonderful collaboration and reception of this program.

Crafty creations presented weekly have kept participants from ages 1 to 23 years engaged and distracted from the reality of being at the site for necessary and often painful and scary cancer treatments. Some of our most recent favorite projects are classy clipboards, painted pumpkins and terrific turkeys. In addition, children and teens at the program have learned to play new games, master puzzles and interact with one another in a playroom-like atmosphere.  Much fun lies in the donated trunk filled with treasures to keep patients occupied during our sessions. Parents often share in the activities or take the opportunity to meet with a medical professional while their child is busy with the Wheels team. One parent at New York Presbyterian said, "I changed the appointment day I come to the hospital for outpatient treatment with my 19 month old as she loves the projects she gets to make and spending time playing with the Sunrise on Wheels volunteers!" 

The magical weekly activity at Maria Fareri and NYP could not be accomplished without the generosity of our volunteers and donors. Sunrise on Wheels has been welcomed and so well-received at our 9 Sunrise Day Camp hospitals.  We are thrilled to report that when the Wheels roll into Hackensack University Medical Center we will be at #10!!!  Let’s roll on….