Treasure Box for Kids Program

History of How the Program Started

A few years ago as I was approaching retirement age, I thought about how wonderful it would be to have some kind of legacy to leave behind. One that could be shared with other artists or future ones and at the same time have a worthy benefit to it.

This is when I came up with the idea of painting "Treasure Boxes" for sick children.

Having been a nurse, I remember all too well how much it meant to terminally ill and long term case children in hospitals, to be given some little extra TLC (tender loving care). So the idea was born to paint a box for a child to have for their very own to hold keepsakes at their bedside. In checking out the resources on traditional treasure boxes used for the past century by kids, I discovered it had been a shoe box. As it turns out, it is the perfect shape to fit into a hospital nightstand. They can be painted up the same as any paper mache box. After painting every shoe box I could find, I did have to purchase some keepsakes boxes at a craft store, which are the same shape and size (11" X 7" and 4" deep. More about this below).

Mission Statement

I have made it my goal since 2006 to paint as many Treasure Boxes as I can and to try to get others involved into making this a legacy that can benefit the sick children around the world. I can't even begin to explain in words of how it feels to have a lump in your throat and a warm feeling in your heart knowing it brings such joy and a big smile to each child when they are given their very own box. Won't you please join me in painting a " Treasure Box" to bring a smile to a sick child's face. It is such a worthy cause.

There is no profit made from this program, that it is in it's entirely based on volunteers who paint and create the boxes, submit designs, supplies or whatever is required to make the program work. All of the work or money that goes into this program, is completely voluntary or donated. Anything stated to the contrary is false and will be construed to be an attempt to disrupt the true aim of the program. It is meant only to offer some TLC and to put a smile on a sick child's face.

Information needed for doing boxes

1. You or any group, chapter or club, can do them. The box needs to be a shoe box or one close in size and shape (11" x 7 " and about 4" deep). Many craft stores sell a keepsake photo box that matches this size and at times puts them on sale for under $ 2.00. Since the bottom of these boxes are already finished, you need only paint or decorate the lids. 2. Keep in mind the designs are for children between the ages of 5 to 17 years of age. Children are most forgiving of the quality of the painting level, which means most anyone can paint the boxes regardless of their painting skills. Children respond more to the bright cheerful colors of decorations.
3. Any design can be painted on them. It doesn't have to your own original, but there are a few exceptions : You can not use any trademark figures such as Superman, Walt Disney characters, etc.,if painting. However you can use the stickers of such to place on the boxes. (Boxes do not have to be totally painted, other decorations will do as well). 4. Once the design is on the lid, the surface needs to be sealed with a clear finish to protect the design. So be sure to allow enough time for this to dry completely before mailing them or taking them to the hospitals. 5. Once the boxes are done, forward them on to one of the depots closest to you that are listed here. The people listed here will gather the quota needed for the hospital being supplied and deliver them in person. At the start of this program, I have chosen
to supply the Shriner Children's Hospital, but later I hope to branch the program out to include other hospitals. At this time the program is being sponsored by the following organizations and groups:
Society of Decorative Painters	To Join this group of Treasure Box for Kids painters

Special Free Designs being offered:

There is a free design that I offer and it is changed each quarter of the year to be used for the Treasure Boxes for Kids.

There are also other free designs available below for you to download and use for painting the " Treasure Boxes ". They are not free for any other purpose and they are found only in this section of the web site. Along with the ones I offer, several other good hearted artists have stepped forward to offer free designs for this program by clicking on the links it will open to the design now being offered.

Please note:

I have also produced a special CD that has designs that can be used for the "Treasure Boxes" , since many people have requested this in order to help them in selecting designs to fit the shape of the box and for ideas of what to paint. It is not necessary to buy this CD to belong to the program, Series 16 CD was done only as a request.

Sending Boxes to the Depots Listed

Click below to find the nearest
location to you to send your boxes to.

Click below to find the number of boxes
each Shiner Hospital has requested

Click below to see the listing of the Honorary Artists

A Little bit more information

As you have already read the objective of this program is to provide a hand painted or decorated " Treasure Box" for children who are chronically ill or require long term special care. However, there is a little bit of background information that might help you to understand the need of such a box.

At the Shiner's hospitals (which are the first ones to be served), the children are given small toys or prizes to direct their attention away from the painful treatments or surgeries they undergo. This is one of the main reasons for having the boxes, to hold these prized possessions at their nightstands. The smile it gives each child to have one of their very own to take home is something one never forgets.

A rule that is applied at the Shriner's hospitals is that all children are treated equal, regardless of race, religion, nationality, etc. So if one child gets a box, all of the children at the hospital must receive one too, at the same time. Therefore this was an important fact in getting enough boxes together to meet the bed quota for each hospital to start off the program. A supply will then be needed to give to each new patient coming into the hospital in the future. Each depot person collects the boxes and hopefully with your help we can keep the hospitals supplied in the future.

" A Treasure Box is the most heart warming creation
you will ever make" .