Girl, 7, plans party to help HIV/AIDS patients
Published: December 5, 2005
Though Juliette van Schaik’s birthday was a few months ago, and Christmas is only a few weeks away, the 7-year-old told her parents she wanted to have another celebration filled with gifts.
But as the young Suffern resident explained one day while snacking on Cheez Doodles, she wanted to give the presents to other, less fortunate children.
“Giving gifts to other kids is like a present for me,” the Viola Elementary School first-grader said yesterday afternoon at the Little Gym, where she and her family held a party to collect toys for children being treated in Nyack Hospital’s Pediatric HIV/AIDS Unit.
Juliette said her father, Justin van Schaik, had told her about gift-donation parties and then she decided she wanted to have her own to “help other kids.”
“She has such a good heart,” said Juliette’s mom, Gail van Schaik.
Recently, she said, Juliette cut her hair and donated her long blond tresses to Locks of Love, an organization that creates wigs for children with long-term medical hair loss.
The family became involved in Juliette’s idea.
“It’s a great experience for us to have as a family,” said Justin van Schaik. Juliette also has a 4-year-old brother, Danny.
A family recommended they donate to Nyack Hospital’s Pediatric HIV/AIDS Unit. Justin van Schaik said Brandy Poliakoff, owner and manager of Little Gym, volunteered use of her facilities and staff.
“I thought Juliette’s idea was great,” said Poliakoff, who also invited the gym’s regular customers to the event to increase the toy donations. “We wanted to help any way we could.”
The van Schaiks provided the food and drinks for two play sessions at the gym, each attended by about 40 children. Every child brought a wrapped present for donation.
Dana Marlowe, the program coordinator for the Pediatric HIV/AIDS unit in Nyack Hospital, brought her children, Rebecca, 7 and Noah, 4, who played on the cushy, multicolored gymnastic equipment.
“We really appreciate all the donations we receive, and it’s wonderful to see children donating gifts for children they know are sick,” Marlowe said. In cooperation with the county Health Department, Nyack Hospital’s program treats about 70 children and adolescents each year with HIV/AIDS.
After spending nearly two hours flipping over padded bars, balancing on beams and tumbling about the bright gymnasium with her friends, Brooke Greenstein, 7, said she was having a lot of fun.
“We got to give toys to kids in the hospital,” said the Conner Elementary School first-grader. Before racing back to the crowd of active children, the Pearl River girl said, “I like helping.”
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