By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

Remote-control cars, Yankees swag and fishing gear were the top items on Jason Trimm’s Christmas list. It didn’t matter if the trinkets came from the dollar store — he loved getting presents no matter where they were from. But for Jason, the greatest gift of all was not something that could be bought.

“His biggest present was being able to spend it with his family,” said Katie Cragin, Jason’s mother.

Tragically, Jason’s time with his family was cut short on July 27, 2016, when he died at the age of 14 after undergoing surgery to remove a benign brain tumor.

“When Christmastime came around, I told [my fiancé] I didn’t know how I was going to handle not shopping for him for Christmas,” Cragin recalled. “We decided to go shopping anyway.”

Cragin’s fiancé, Jason Schafer, learned that Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital accepts holiday gifts for kids in the hospital. He suggested Cragin donate gifts to “Snowflake Central,” as the initiative is called. Schafer owns Jasons’ Auto Repair in Clay — named after himself and Jason Trimm, who dreamed of becoming a mechanic one day — and he asked his customers to give as well. Now, Jasons’ Auto Repair is embarking on its fourth year of giving to Snowflake Central.

“It is incredibly special to me to be able to help other families,” she said. “Each year that we’ve done it, it has increased and increased. Last year we were able to donate 18 boxes of gifts. It brought tears to my eyes to look at a waiting room full of presents.”

Snowflake Central gives tickets to parents of hospitalized children so they can go shopping without having to stray too far from their child’s bedside, without having to worry about germ-filled malls or financial constraints.

Cragin said she recognizes that hospital staffers try to make the holidays special for families who are facing hardship. Managing the gift drive at Jasons’ Auto Repair is her way of giving back to the hospital that cared for her son.

“I think when you’ve experienced a loss, one of the greatest helps you can give yourself is to help others,” Cragin said. “You have all this love to give and the source you used to give it to isn’t physically here anymore.”

While Snowflake Central’s wish list has items for kids of all ages, Cragin said the greatest need is for adolescents.

“It’s easy to shop for little kids, but older kids are into electronics, which are more expensive,” she said.

Among Golisano’s gift ideas for tweens and teens are bath and body gift sets, Xbox or PS4 consoles and games, tablets, headphones, Syracuse University sports paraphernalia and gift cards.

Due to infection concerns, gifts must be new and unopened. Homemade and handmade gifts such as food, blankets or stuffed animals cannot be accepted.

Jasons’ Auto Repair is located at 8598 Morgan Road, Clay NY 13041. The shop is accepting new, unwrapped gifts through Dec. 6. Visit facebook.com/carrepaircny or call 315-944-3700 for more information.

To learn more about Snowflake Central and see the wish list, visit upstate.edu/gch/patients-families/child-life/holiday-giving.php or contact Jenny Dickinson at 315-464-9330 or [email protected]. The drop-off period for gift donations is Nov. 29 through Dec. 13.