by Bethany Mitros

Lily Cuticchia isn’t even double digits, but already the St. Rose of Lima fourth grader has made a big difference for people who are less fortunate. This Sunday, she hopes the local community comes out to help her help others at a basket auction at her home in the West Collingswood Heights section of Haddon Township. With the funds she raises, Cuticchia will purchase essential items for those struggling with substance use disorders, many of whom are also homeless, at the Cooper Center for Healing in Camden.

The auction features over 30 baskets, with something for everyone. Cuticchia said there is a Nintendo basket with items for Mario and Pokemon lovers, a toy and art basket and a Vera Bradley beach basket. Her mom, Jordan Warner, said friends and family donated money and basket items, but so did local businesses, including Primo Water Ice and Anjali Power Yoga in Haddon Township.

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Sunday’s fundraiser will be a family-friendly affair with the help of Cuticchia’s family. Her grandfather will make hot dogs, her dad and his friends will provide live music and there will be chips and candy.

Cuticchia hopes to raise $2,500, which is a big goal for a young girl, but it is hardly unprecedented as this is the fourth time she has organized a major effort. In 2020, at the tender age of six, she held a sock drive, the following year, she held a bake sale which raised $2,000 and enabled her to buy and fill 200 backpacks for homeless people in Camden, and last year, she held a bake sale that brought in $2,200 for an animal shelter in Gloucester County.

This year, Cuticchia decided to again raise money to buy items that her mom and other practitioners at the Cooper Center for Healing can give out to patients in need. “It feels really important that you can make a difference,” said Cuticchia. “A lot of people do not respect the homeless, but there are a lot of people who need help.”

Warner said she works in the addiction medicine clinic and sometimes in the emergency department, where they see many people facing homelessness. There, a whole closet full of toiletries and other essentials is given out as needed and that’s what Cuticchia hopes to make sure is well-stocked after her fundraiser.

“Every year, we have more and more people turn out. It’s really fun to come up with the idea and figure out how we’re going to do it,” said Cuticchia. “It’s always a nice day,” Warner agreed. “She does something different every year. She has all the ideas. I just assist.”

But Cuticchia and Warner said they get a lot of help as well from Cuticchia’s dad, Warner’s husband, grandparents, friends and even the local community. This year, a neighbor helped design a flyer and T-shirts with Lily. While the former helped get the word out, the latter brought in additional donations as anyone who contributed $30 or more got a free T-shirt. “It is so nice to know that people are on our side and want to support us,” she explained.

After Sunday’s fundraiser, Cuticchia and Warner will go out and buy whatever is most needed. “We’re wise about the way we spend it. We are working on figuring out exactly what we want to purchase this year,” said Warner.

Anyone who cannot come to the auction on Sunday but still wants to contribute can do so by sending donations via Venmo to Jordan-Murphy-58. “The more money we get, the more we can buy to help patients.”

“You can always help someone in need,” said Cuticchia. “You don’t have to wait until you are a certain age.”

Warner reiterated that Cuticchia is the driving force behind the fundraisers. “She has the ideas and I help her out. I always tell her that if her goal is to help someone in need, I’ll help make it happen. I am always super proud of Lily. She’s the best kid in the whole world. She is kind and generous and helpful and always looking out for other people.” Lily’s Fundraiser will be held on Sunday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 133 Blenheim Ave. in Haddon Township.