Colson and Carsyn Collins spread holiday cheer by delivering craft kits to young patients, highlighting the siblings’ commitment to community and leadership.
HOUSTON — For Colson Collins, giving back during the holidays is more than a tradition — it’s part of his family’s identity.
Collins, a junior dual-threat quarterback at The John Cooper School in The Woodlands, is once again teaming up with his younger sister, Carsyn, to deliver holiday craft kits to children receiving care at Texas Children’s Hospital locations in The Woodlands and Houston. The siblings dropped off 200 kits in The Woodlands earlier this month and another 200 in Houston.
Collins said the tradition has helped shape how he thinks about responsibility and leadership.
“Being able to lift others up with you, like that’s a big part of leadership, right?” he told KHOU 11’s Jason Bristol. “So being able to kind of lift the spirits of the children that are unfortunately in the hospital during the holidays, I think it does have a big aspect on leadership and kind of serving your community as a leader.”
The project, marked with the hashtag #CarsynCAN — for Cares About Neighbors — began when Carsyn was in first grade. After watching her parents and older brother volunteer with St. Jude’s and Texas Children’s Hospital, she wanted to help in her own way. Initial plans for treat bags shifted after concerns about dietary restrictions, leading to the creation of craft kits designed to bring joy and distraction to young patients spending their holidays in a hospital room.
The effort has since grown into a yearly mission, supplying thousands of craft kits for major holidays. Colson has supported his sister’s work from the beginning, helping pack the kits, deliver them, and encouraging classmates to get involved.
Carsyn, who helped launch the project as a young child, said the goal is simple.
“If anyone is in need, you should always help and not getting anything in return is kind of part of the magic other than getting return and happiness,” she told Bristol.
“This is something I’m proud to do with my sister every year,” Colson said in a statement. “She started this when she was little because she wanted kids in the hospital to feel included and have something fun to do. Being able to help her and see how much joy these kits bring, that’s what the holidays are really about.”
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