Jen Clark works about 100 hours each week as the owner of a specialty bakery in Cudahy, Wisc., but she still didn’t feel right about taking a vacation last year unless she combined it with a good deed. So she added a trip to Memphis, Tenn., onto her Easter vacation trip to Nashville — just to bring Easter baskets to the kids of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“Every kid needs an Easter basket,” Jen said. She and her daughter, Cortney, who also works at the bakery, drove nine hours to bring 80 Easter baskets to Memphis last year, filling an SUV. “We had baskets upon baskets upon baskets. My daughter held an Easter basket the entire way.”
Hopper, a gray, stuffed rabbit, is the mascot for what Jen calls Operation Bunny Hop, which has its own Facebook page.
Operation Bunny Hop expanded to about 550 baskets this year, because Jen saw many more than 80 children when she visited St. Jude last year. The hospital treats upwards of 277 patients a day, with most St. Jude patients treated as outpatients to preserve as much of a normal routine as possible.
When she visited St. Jude last year, Jen said, “It was way beyond what I expected.”
Because of the size of Operation Bunny Hop this year, the Easter baskets will be transported in a 26-foot moving truck by Jen’s son, Clay, who works for a moving company.
The owner of the company and his wife, Vern and Amanda Snyder, are traveling down with Clay, as well. Jen’s customers at Jen’s Sweet Treats are also providing donations for the basket wishlist that Jen developed with guidance from the hospital.
Every basket will include four items, such as new toys for younger children or earbuds for older ones, as well as individually wrapped candy stuffed inside plastic eggs.
When people hear the story of what is going on (at St. Jude), they are pretty receptive. These kids are going through a super-hard time, and people are very sympathetic to that.
Help our families focus on their sick child, not medical bills.
When you donate monthly, your gift means families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
Read more inspiring stories
-
High schoolers graduate in a virtual ceremony
Learn how the St. Jude School Program arranged a virtual graduation for high school students this year.
-
A virtual celebration: Kindergarteners graduate after a year of big changes
After the pandemic cancelled last year’s event, see how the St. Jude School Program coordinated a virtual kindergarten graduation this year.
-
Yavette Gray: Cancer survivor raises cancer awareness for research and emotional support
During National Black Family Cancer Awareness Week, read Yavette Gray’s story of cancer survivorship.
-
Surgeon’s path of communal goodwill leads to global impact
Surgeon Hafeez Abdelhafeez’s passion leads him to improving others’ lives on a global scale. Read his story.
-
Out of this world: Physician assistant takes her St. Jude perspective to space
Physician assistant Hayley Arceneaux is a childhood cancer survivor at the hospital that saved her life. Now she’s on her way to space. Read her story.
-
Doctors’ Day: St. Jude physicians share common goals
Read how St. Jude physicians are able to provide the best care for their patients.
-
“The Chief” Allan Granoff, PhD, a pioneer of translational pediatric research at St. Jude
St. Jude remembers Allan Granoff, a founding father of the pediatric research hospital.
-
St. Jude recognizes Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month. St. Jude celebrates the achievements of our female faculty, scientists and administrators. Read their stories and learn more.
-
Journey to the Jude: Heather Brandt, PhD, works to steer HPV vaccination rates in right direction
Heather Brandt, PhD, joined the hospital last summer to lead the hospital’s new HPV Cancer Prevention Program. Learn how her career’s work will help guide this important initiative.
-
St. Jude honors physicians who were key to hospital’s pandemic response
For the first time in St. Jude history, there are two recipients of the annual Amos Jacobs Award—the highest honor given to hospital employees. Read more about their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
A sequence of festive events: ‘Gene Gnome’ delivers holiday hijinks to St. Jude
See how Gene Gnome is bringing some holiday fun to the research community at St. Jude.
-
St. Jude employees have many reasons to say thanks
In a challenging year, read why St. Jude employees are thankful this holiday season.
-
St. Jude resource group supports efforts of veterans, active duty personnel and families
Veterans are an important part of the workforce at St. Jude. Learn how the hospital’s Military Support Resource Group helps employee veterans and active duty personnel.
-
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
To mark National Hispanic Heritage Month, St. Jude is honoring some our dedicated Hispanic employees. Learn more about their work.
-
Preparing for a Pandemic
The staff at St. Jude go above and beyond to ensure patient and employee safety throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Read how St. Jude employees collaborate and innovate during this time.