In 2010, Rene Porter of Winter Garden experienced a profound moment when she entered the hospital room of her friends' son, Greyson Heineke.

Instead of the usual sterile environment, the room was adorned with Christmas decorations: stockings, garlands, twinkling lights, and a small decorated tree.

This transformation brought warmth and joy to the Heineke family during a challenging time as doctors sought answers for Greyson's seizures.

Inspired by this experience, Porter founded The Greyson Project in 2015 to honor Greyson, who passed away shortly after his first birthday.

The nonprofit collects and delivers holiday decorations to families spending the season in hospitals, aiming to make their rooms feel more like home.

Since its inception, The Greyson Project has delivered over 15,000 bags of decorations to families across 15 states.

Each bag contains items like artificial trees, battery-operated lights, garlands, stockings, and DIY craft kits.

Community involvement has been instrumental in the project's growth.

Local businesses, such as Pammie’s Sammies in Winter Garden, serve as drop-off locations for decoration donations.

Volunteers assist in assembling and delivering the bags to hospitals, ensuring that families can experience the joy of the holiday season despite being away from home.

Porter emphasizes the importance of these efforts, stating that even small gestures can significantly impact families during difficult times.

By transforming hospital rooms into festive spaces, The Greyson Project provides comfort and a sense of normalcy to families facing medical challenges during the holidays.