JoJo and Kay Jo Fischer, Assistant Manager of
the WHS Emergency Department, on their way
to hand out stuffed animals to the kids in the ER.
In addition to donating toys to the WHS Emergency
Department, JoJo has collected and donated new stuffed animals
to local police and fire stations, including the North Strabane
police and fire departments, the Chartiers Police Department
and the Peters Fire Department. She also donates any gently used
stuffed animals she collects to the Canonsburg/Houston Food
Pantry.
In addition to accepting donations, JoJo raises money to
purchase the stuffed animals by making and selling crafts. She also
raises money an old-fashioned way: by selling lemonade.
JoJo’s mother, Melanie Jaskulski, is not surprised by her
daughter’s generosity and compassion for others. She says that as
a family, she and her husband Henry have always tried to instill
kindness in their daughter—in the past, JoJo has donated 12
inches of hair to Wigs for Kids, volunteered to cook holiday meals
at Ronald McDonald House, and competes in an annual “kick-a-
thon” to help families in need receive Thanksgiving turkeys. Prior
to her Hug Project, JoJo conducted a gluten-free food drive to
ensure that families who use the local food bank have access to
safe, gluten-free foods.
“We introduced her to helping others, and she found joy in
doing so and wanted to ensure she continued,” says Jaskulski.
“One day, she asked me if we could look into a new project to help
more kids, and asked to look at the Disney Be Inspired website. I
wasn’t surprised, but am proud of her for taking on what she really
wanted to do and making it her own. She truly is one genuine,
kind-hearted girl.”
When she’s not working on her project, JoJo takes tae kwon do,
plays basketball and likes to build Legos, and she names math and
science as two of her favorite subjects.
JoJo meets
police officers
for her first-
ever dropoff of
stuffed animals.
Her ultimate goal? “I want to help give hugs to as many kids as I
can,” JoJo says.
For more information or to donate to JoJo’s Hug Project,
visit JoJo’s Hug Project on Facebook or send an email to
[email protected]. n
SOUTH FAYETTE
❘
SPRING 2019
13