On the Thursday before February vacation, Cranston Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC) students Mia Boscia, Abbey Regan and Kayla Tortorella spent their afternoon delivering 50 chemo care baskets to Providence’s Tomorrow Fund. The girls created the packages for their SkillsUSA Championships since they wanted a project which gave back to the community.

“I hope that they [patients] are happy with the baskets and that it puts a smile on their face; and that it can take their mind off the dark situation that’s going on,” said Regan in a Thursday interview.

Each basket came with 10 items such as toys, crayons, coloring books, chapstick, crafts, Pop-Its and more.

“What I like about it [the project] personally is we can make a diverse amount of baskets because it ranges from ages of weeks old to early 20s,” said Boscia.

According to SkillsUSA’s website, the organization’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. Their vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success. The organization hosts career competition events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels.

The team of three started brainstorming project ideas in September. Last year, the group created milestone markers for families with babies in the NICU and knew this time around that they wanted to continue helping kids. Regan, 17, said one of the Medical Pathway program’s sophomores was diagnosed with lymphoma last year and is currently in remission. She became the basis for why the girls wanted to assist those with cancer.

Boscia, 18, shared that the group held three drives for their project. In the first drive, students donated materials for the baskets. In the second drive during Valentine's Day, individuals could sponsor a basket and write a personalized letter to a patient; the group also got companies to sponsor baskets as well.

Medical Pathways Teacher Lauren Fontaine reflected on the girls’ milestone markers project from last year and how, at the time, wondered how they could come up with something better the next year.

“And here we are,” said Fontaine, adding how proud she is.

She added that girls are reaching out to a vulnerable population.