Ribbons for Katie
Lining the railings and fences of homes along Haddonfield are purple bows. Not representing any candidate or party affiliation, these bows are different in their message, as they represent community support for a student from Central Elementary School.
“If we can put out ribbons for commissioners, I thought, why can’t I put them out for Katie,” Kris Bean said.
Selling purple ribbons is just the latest in a number of fundraisers organized by fellow third-grade students and friends of 8-year-old Katie van Arnam, who was diagnosed over the summer with lymphoma and is currently undergoing treatment.
“This made them feel like they could help,” Bean said of van Arnam’s peers and of her daughter Rebecca Bean, who is a close friend of van Arnam.
After learning about van Arnam’s diagnosis, Kris Bean said her daughter immediately asked what she could do to help.
Since then, Bean, parents and a group of students have made purple bracelets and hosted bake sales to raise money for van Arnam’s family.
Kris Bean explained that van Arnam’s mother, Casey Glazer, left her job to better accommodate van Arnam’s
appointments for treatment. She said that as a mother of four, she could sympathize with Glazer.
“This, for me, hit real close to home. It wasn’t something I expected to hear,” Kris Bean said.
To show support for van Arnam, Kris Bean decided that they could raise additional money by selling purple bows at $5 per bow that residents could tie to the outside of their house.
“Right now, it’s really been word of mouth,” Kris Bean said.
With some of the third graders going door-to-door, Kris Bean said word has slowly began to spread, even reaching out to the dog walking community at Crow’s Woods.
Kris Bean said that residents are asked to display their purple bows outside their home, the idea being that van Arnam can see them as she comes home from chemotherapy for encouragement.
“The whole community has really come out to support them,” Kris Bean said.
She added that one resident on Lincoln Avenue purchased 13 bows and challenged any resident to buy more, saying that he would match their donation.
Since van Arnam will need treatment for the next two years, Kris Bean said she would continue to order bows and make them as long as people in the community still want them.
Additional fundraising efforts for the family included a block party held on the 400 block of Washington Avenue on Oct. 26.
Staying in contact with Glazer, Kris Bean said the family has been overwhelmed by the outpour of support from the community.
“There’s been a lot of people out there,” Kris Bean said.
While there are currently no future fundraising events set, Kris Bean said there is plenty in the works right now.
In the meantime, donations are being accepted, as well as purple bows for sale.
If interested in purchasing purple bows, residents are asked to email Kris Bean at [email protected] and to include an address and number of bows for intended purchase, so they can be delivered.
