CANTON -- An online SUNY Canton student has made it her personal mission to support families of children with heart defects.

Madeline F. Hewitt, a legal studies major, recently ran a college-wide donation drive to supply materials to create Heart Bags for the Congenital Heart Defect Coalition.

Each bag is given to a family to help them through extensive hospital visits.

"Heart bags provide families with games and activities while they wait through long hours of surgery," Hewitt said.

"My godson was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. For me and my family, the bags of donated supplies let us know that there are people out there supporting us."

The college community, including Hewitt's teammates from the cross country team, donated more than 100 items to outfit the heart bags, which include games, coloring books, and personal care items.

"These donations will help lift the spirts of families with children suffering from congenital heart defects."

Hewitt, a senior who will be graduating in May, is originally from Potsdam with family in the Syracuse area.

She was named to the North Atlantic Conference Fall All-Academic Team and has received President's List Honors for academics.