LIVINGSTON, NJ — Livingston students and Friendship Circle volunteers Evan, 14, and Sophie Goldman, 16, are currently collecting toys, books and games to help put a smile on the faces of young hospital patients in the area through an initiative they recently established called “Karts for Kids.” Through the end of November, residents of Livingston and beyond are invited to make monetary contributions or donate items to help the siblings reach their first goal of filling carts with $2,500 worth of much-needed kids activities to be distributed to local hospitals.
Through their work with The Friendship Circle — which their mother Bonnie described as a “fantastic facility” that supports individuals with special needs by providing various activities that “promote social interaction, creativity and inclusion,” including sensory-friendly play zones, areas for therapeutic play and many other social opportunities for kids with special needs — Evan and Sophie quickly recognized a need to support special needs kids in the community who are unable to travel to the Friendship Circle.
“Through their volunteer work at The Friendship Circle, they came up with the idea of Karts For Kids,” said Bonnie. “Sophie and Evan believe in the power of play and want to bring this idea to hospital kids.” She continued, “The idea behind the Karts is to make the activities mobile for kids who face medical difficulties.”…