Brotherly Love: Healing Hearts On Halloween
MULLICA HILL (CBS) -- This weekend when millions of kids are trick-or-treating, some kids will have to miss out. Think of all the kids in the hospital. A Mullica Hill boy did, he has made it his mission to bring Halloween to those who can't go out. His name is Sal Dragone. And his idea has spread from one hospital to several states.
Inside a few dozen boxes are the building blocks of a happy Halloween.
Sal Dragone said, "This is the stuff that we put into the bags that are going to be shipped out to kids in hospitals who can't get trick or treating."
16-year-old Sal is the architect of all this action.
When Sal was 7, he realized some kids are in the hospital on October 31, so he asked his mom to give his candy to them.
"It was touching," said Felicia Dragone, Sal's mom. "I didn't really know if he was serious about until he didn't let it go. He kept talking about it and talking about it.
It became a project called Healing Hearts for Halloween, goodie bags for kids that are sent to seven states.
"We like to fill the bags with little trinket toys, coloring books, any activity that will keep a child active or occupied when he can't go out trick or treating," said Felicia.
Sal's 13-year-old brother Anthony helps out every year. "Just for him to think of this as a kid, that's really incredible," Anthony said.
Mom's co-workers and school friends also volunteer their time.
"It sounded pretty cool like helping out like other kids who like can't go trick or treating," said Brian Padgett, 18.
Sal has learned some big lessons, including fundraising in a bad economy. "One year we were giving out video game systems and train sets to the waiting rooms, and we can't afford to do that now," he said.
But Sal hopes these small gifts help. "I hope it just gives them some sense that their day isn't completely ruined," he said.
Not completely ruined because Halloween came to them!
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Reported By: Dave Huddleston, CBS 3
