By Lucia Gabriel
In a community where small acts of kindness can make a big difference, Little Love Baskets (LLB) stands out as a club at Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS). Its goal is to bring courage and joy to patients at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. This club dedicates itself to creating and giving out thoughtfully made baskets and other gifts to young hospital patients. Each basket is filled with items guaranteed to bring a smile to children suffering, helping them take their mind off what they are going through.
Ali Colteryahn, a junior at PVHS, is the founder and president of LLB. Colteryahn started LLB after she was a patient at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. After leaving the hospital, she felt inspired to give back to patients. Her goal was to make an impact on patients who may feel discouraged, so she decided to make a club to meet that goal. She plans the meetings, organizes donations, ensures everything runs smoothly, and helps deliver the baskets to the hospital. She said, “I wanted to give back and make other kids feel cared for. As the president, I hope to spread kindness and help bring light to the children’s lives during hard times.” These baskets show the officer’s commitment and express their compassion for the children. Regan Cook, a junior at PVHS, is the vice president of LLB, and helps organize the events and makes sure the other officers are doing their jobs. “We plan on having more basket-making events and even incorporating different events this year such as card making events and more holiday themed events,” she said. She explained they include all members in the basket making process by setting out different themed items and baskets to choose from. They aim to donate more than 100 baskets for the 2025 school year.
“We plan on having more basket-making events and even incorporating different events this year such as card making events and more holiday themed events.”
Regan Cook (11)
Anderson Hall, a junior at PVHS, is the social media manager and is in control of all online accounts and marketing for LLB. She said, “I hope to appeal and spread the word of the club and to recruit as many members as possible.” She takes pictures of all the members participating in the events, and she also makes posts that summarize what they discussed for each meeting. Hall also makes posts updating members about upcoming events. Hall said, “We prioritize club fair because it is a perfect opportunity to recruit more members.”
Members have the opportunity to earn service hours for participating in the club, by donating items, and participating in club activities. Finley Pilinko, a junior at PVHS, is the secretary and oversees all the service hours for each of the members. Ali sets up an Amazon wish list and sends it out on the Remind app, which is how the officers communicate with the members of LLB. Members can buy items off the wish list, such as hygiene products, toys, clothing, coloring books, and other small gifts. They choose items that are comforting, useful, and entertaining for kids in hospitals. “This year, we’re aiming to make and donate around 75 baskets in addition to the other donations we provide and deliver,” said Ali.
Ms. Walsh, an English teacher at PVHS, is the club sponsor and provides her classroom for LLB meetings and activities. She makes sure that all the permission slips get turned in. “I’d love to see the club grow because it’s worth a good cause and helps raise awareness for patients that are forgotten, especially on holidays,” says Ms. Walsh.
LLB helps provide support and a sense of normalcy to children facing challenges at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. The smiles that grow on the children’s faces and the gratitude expressed by them are a reminder of the importance of the club’s mission. It is not only about the items in the basket, but also about the message of love and the hope they are sending. It is important to let the children know that they are not alone and there are people supporting them.
Pictured: Little Love Basket’s officers at a meeting
