Cape Cod Group Providing Kids Facing Illness or Crisis With a Night at Edaville

CARVER (WBSM) — A Cape Cod organization is sponsoring a special night this week at Edaville Family Theme Park in Carver for children with special needs, chronic or life-limiting illnesses and those facing safety crises.

The Happy Hope Foundation, based in Pocasset, will bring more than 105 local children and their families to Edaville on Thursday for what is being dubbed “A Night to Remember.”

Joy Jankowiak, Director of Development for the Happy Hope Foundation, told WBSM this is the first time the foundation has sponsored an event of this type.

“We’re hoping for a very fun and memorable event,” she said.

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The children and their families will be treated to a holiday meal, a Gold Ticket Edaville experience with unlimited steam train rides, and an opportunity to meet Santa Claus. The

“Accommodations for children utilizing wheelchairs and mobility aids have been made to ensure children of all abilities can take part in the holiday celebrations at the park,” the foundation said in a release.

The best part is, a limited number of tickets were made available through local schools and the Carver, Bourne and Wareham police departments (which have all been reserved), allowing the children and their families to attend at no cost to them.

“We are delighted to sponsor this opportunity for families to enjoy a magical evening together at Edaville Railroad and create some very special holiday memories,” said Emi Burke, CEO of the Happy Hope Foundation.

What Is the Happy Hope Foundation?

According to the foundation, Burke was motivated to start the group herself “while accompanying her profoundly disabled son on numerous hospital stays and witnessing many young children receiving treatment with little to engage or distract while hospitalized.”

The Happy Hope Foundation is “a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life of children hospitalized nationwide through the distribution of engaging and inspiring care packages called Happy Hope Bags,” according to a release.

The bags are “filled with colorful, fun and creative activities that provide happiness and joy to children receiving care for a health of safety emergency.”

What Else Does the Happy Hope Foundation Do?

“We have hosted a number of corporate and community volunteer events at our Pocasset-based Happy Hope Factory, where participants help assemble and package Happy Hope Bags to be donated locally and throughout Massachusetts,” Jankowiak said. “We have also partnered with local organizations to coordinate back-to-school backpack drives, emergency need kits, and other special initiatives.”

Since its founding in 2011, the foundation has delivered Happy Hope Bags to nearly 800,000 children in 650 hospitals and nonprofits.

That’s because it’s not only a local Massachusetts organization; the foundation also partners with hundreds of companies to have them take part in bag-creating initiatives, whether on-site, remotely or a hybrid of both.

“We provide all supplies, instructions, and shipping materials ahead of time, as well as connect with a partner local to the participating company to receive the donation of completed bags,” Jankowiak said.

Anyone who wishes to get involved can visit HappyHopeFactory.org.