At fifteen, Lauren Clements knew she was meant to do something big. Now at 20, Lauren holds the title as founder of a five-year non-profit organization, known as Lauren’s Care Baskets, which is dedicated to providing young cancer patients with joy, happiness, hope and comfort.
Lauren’s Care Baskets was founded in 2010, based on the sole mission to let sick children have the opportunity to be kids again. Each of the care baskets put together by Lauren are in no way the same. Lauren’s Care Baskets are personalized to every individual child’s likes and interests, making sure it matches up to their unique personality. On the organization’s website, they say “Each child is different, so each basket is different!”
“Over the years I’ve worked diligently to craft my care baskets into something truly special and unique” Clements said. “Kids with cancer receive so many gifts, so I knew I wanted mine to be different. These kids go through so much and I want them to have a few moments while opening their care basket to focus on love, laugher and hope. Not their diagnosis and their pain.”
These baskets are also not just for children, but they can also be catered to fit a teenagers needs, and even parents. The children and teenager’s care baskets can have items such as high quality toys and games, coloring books, something comfortable to wear in the hospital, other than the typical back-tie hospital gown and sheets for the hospital bed. Parent’s baskets may include kleenex, fuzzy socks, notebooks, lotion and small snacks for those long days at the hospital.
Clements shared her inspiration to begin this organization saying that growing up, she always had a heart for others and knew she wanted to live a life dedicated to helping those in need, but she had no idea where to start.
When she was 15, she coincidentally found the story of a little girl named Layla. Layla was two at the time and battling Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer. She passed away shortly after Clements discovered her story, but the teen knew she could not just continue her life as it was. She said to herself, “‘Hey, I don’t like this. I want to do something about it.’ My eyes were opened to the fact that childhood cancer was more than just the St. Jude commercials.”
The next summer Clements started sending small care packages to children across the country. “They were silly and nothing big at all, but they were from my heart. I noticed how happy the kids would get over such a simple act of kindness, so I was inspired to do something bigger,” she said. “Now my care baskets are known to be huge and overflowing with stuff. Going overboard is kind of my thing.”
Since the non-profit started in 2010, Lauren’s Care Baskets has given nearly 50 baskets to children, teens and parents.
Donations are always welcome and there is always room to support or sponsor one of the children Lauren’s Care Baskets is looking to make smile again. Learn more at laurenscarebaskets.com.
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