Small Hands Create Big Impact – Claire’s Giving Story November 5, 2025 At just 12 years old, Claire Burrill of Albany is already positively impacting her community. The oldest of six siblings, Burrill instinctively looks after others and was inspired by her 4‑year‑old neighbor, Kaia Mannale. As an infant, Mannale was diagnosed with arthrogryposis and Pierre Robin syndrome, which impact her joints, muscles and lower jaw. She underwent several surgeries in the year after she was born, requiring she and her family to spend a lot of time in the hospital. Wanting to bring comfort and joy to others facing similar experiences, Burrill came up with a heartfelt idea: provide gift bags for patients at Samaritan Health Services. The idea sparked when Burrill saw a story about someone creating and donating care bags to the houseless community. “I thought, if it could be done for the houseless, why couldn’t it be done for hospital patients?” Burrill said. Claire Begins Her Mission Burrill rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She and her sisters baked cookies, brownies and other treats to sell at bake sales, raising funds to create a variety of gift bags. They also crocheted items to sell and sometimes hosted lemonade stands to boost fundraising. When a sale didn’t quite meet their goal, Burrill even donated some of her own money to make sure they could still meet the vision she had for the bags. Each bag was thoughtfully curated for different age groups of patients, including a special one for new parents. The bags were filled with items to help someone pass the time, to bring comfort or simply to brighten someone’s day. Her efforts caught the attention of Samaritan Foundations, which embraced her project and helped her present gift bags to Samaritan Pediatrics in Corvallis. A group of nurses and clinicians gathered to receive the donations, hear Burrill’s story and thank her for her generosity. “Claire’s generous and thoughtful support reminds us that anyone can make a difference,” said Whitney Olsen, senior development specialist with Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation. “Her philanthropy is an inspiration to the next generation of volunteers and donors who want to improve others’ lives.” To honor her kindness, Samaritan Foundations presented Burrill with a special challenge coin, recognizing the impact she’s already making in her community. Burrill hopes her story will inspire others to take action. “I just want people to know that you don’t have to be a grown-up to make a difference,” she said. “I hope more people will give back to our hospitals and community.” With compassion, creativity and a little help from her younger siblings, Burrill is proving that even the smallest hands can make the biggest difference. Learn how you can make a difference through a Samaritan foundation atsamhealth.org/Giving.
