Inside one Tampa organization's mission to support sick kids this holiday season

TAMPA, Fla. - For many children, a trip to the hospital can be frightening. But one young man who remembers all too well has found a way to make hospital stays a bit brighter for kids.

His effort is this week’s "What's Right With Tampa Bay."

When Raymond Mohler was just four years old, he experienced a traumatic hospital visit due to a joint disease.

Raymond Mohler as child.

"It was really traumatic, and I had no idea what was wrong," Mohler stated.

Fortunately, Mohler's stay lasted only one day, but the experience left a lasting impression.

"When I was able to leave after eight long hours, my parents told me that kids had to stay there for more than a day, and I just couldn't believe that and had this natural feeling of gratitude to want to do something," Mohler said.

So, at the age of six. Ray founded the Little Saint Nick Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting children in hospitals.

The foundation provides gift bags and handmade Christmas cards to young patients.

"The hospital I was in really just sparked a giving spirit in me that my parents embraced," said Mohler. "And 20-plus years later, over 2 million kids have been able to help. And now it's all about inspiring other kids of all ages."

University of Tampa's (UT) Youth Tampa Entrepreneurs program sponsored the bag-packing event. They assembled 250 gift bags for Muma Children's Hospital at Tampa General Hospital.

"At Youth Tampa Entrepreneurs and Youth Tampa as a whole," said Zoe Mcalpin, President Youth Tampa Entrepreneurs. "It's really important for us to give back philanthropically. And what Ray Little St Nick does is amazing."

Students volunteering at the University of Tampa's Youth Tampa Entrepreneurs program.Fortunately, Mohler's stay lasted only one day, but the experience left a lasting impression.

UT student Siena Morandi has a special connection with the organization. She was a recipient of one of the bags when she was in high school.

"When I got the bag, I was filled with joy because it was a really rough time for me," said Morandi. "And my family was also at the height of Covid. And everything was unknown with me and my sickness.

Morandi said that the efforts of the Little Saint Nick Foundation went a long way in lifting her spirits during her hospital stay.

"You know, (to) have like the uplifting words in the cards there, it made it, you know, somewhat of a more bearable experience for me," Morandi said.

Each bag costs just 10 dollars to make and includes a coloring book, coloring pencils, a stuffed animal, and a handwritten note.

Little Saint Nick Foundation volunteers deliver gift bags to sick children.

"They take those values of giving back and doing good throughout their daily lives," said Mohler. "And that is what we believe is going to create future generations of leaders and good people in the world."

The non-profit has helped over two million kids since 2004 by giving out 100,000 gift bags.

For more information on the foundation, visit their website here.

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