The rhythmic hum of wheels echoes against the linoleum as a metal cart rattles down the quiet hallway of Children’s Medical Center Dallas.

Pushing the cart is Coppell High School senior Siri Vemireddy, stopping at every patient’s door.

As she peers into the rooms, she sees children resting in sterile beds, their hands idle and eyes scanning the walls, waiting for the long hours of treatment to pass.

“There weren’t a lot of art-related supplies that kids could really interact with,” Vemireddy said. “That’s what got me thinking about how I could bring art to people who don’t have access to it.”

To a student with an artist’s soul, the absence of creative activities feels heavy.

Art is formative to Vemireddy’s identity, having taken art classes all of middle and high school. Volunteering helps her to see that art can also be something vital for others, particularly in the case of children experiencing lengthy hospitalization.

“I really liked art personally,” Vemireddy said. “But I wanted others to see the benefit of maybe 30 minutes or an hour of art a day.”

SmilesThruArt, founded by Vemireddy, officially launched the summer prior to junior year, starting on a small scale through local donation drives. 

“When I got it started, I personally thought my idea was amazing,” Vemireddy said. “I thought people would be really interested in it. But, after the first month, I realized that, apart from maybe my friends, I would have to do much more outreach.”

The organization supplies hospitals with art supplies and handmade crafts to care for children with long-term illnesses, specializing in making creativity accessible to those who have limited control over their daily routines.

“A lot of people keep neglecting and forgetting about the mental health aspect that these patients are going through,” Vemireddy said. “They’re on treatment regiments almost every single day and it could really take a toll on one’s mental health. Creative expression is really important because it does help with mental health when one is going through diseases and illness.”

Today, there are more than 40 volunteers donating their time to facilitate art material drives, card-making and organizational workshops.

Senior Aasritha Yanamala assists with gathering and transporting donations.

“I didn’t even know art therapy was a thing,” Yanamala said. “Learning about it through the process of helping children have creative freedom was really fun and very fulfilling.”

Despite the scale of physical donations, much of it could not be accepted by hospitals due to policy prohibiting hospitals from accepting handmade items due to contamination risk, specifically for immunocompromised children.

“A lot of hospitals don’t accept handmade gifts because of this,” Vemireddy said. “That was a huge limitation for us.”

To combat this, the organization adapted. On Dec. 6, the organization created SimplyArt, a web-based app where users can access digital coloring books and tutorials on how to create simple art using basic materials.

The app is currently used by 10 hospitals across the United States, with additional interest from Canada, including Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

“They really liked that the materials were simple,” Vemireddy said. “We wanted it to be accessible for everyone.”

The organization integrated with Cowboy Grand Gavel, a local Toastmasters club, as its service project. 

Senior Katy Yan, Cowboy Grand Gavel charity officer, helps coordinate projects and partnerships.

“Art is a very fun, creative activity that most people already enjoy,” Yan said. “It makes community service feel more accessible and motivates more students to get involved.”

For Vemireddy, her experiences in leading SmilesThruArt shifted her perspective on service and leadership. 

“I used to think quantity mattered most,” she said. “But now I realize it’s not about how much I’m giving or how many projects I’ve done. It’s really about who I’m impacting.”

Looking ahead, Vemireddy hopes to expand SimplyArt to at least 20 hospitals by the end of the year and grow the organization nationally as she prepares to pursue pediatrics in college.

“Wherever I go, I really want to incorporate art there on campus,” Vemireddy said. “I want more people to recognize the benefits of art therapy when patients are finding illness.”

No matter where she goes, Vemireddy will always honor the impact she makes on others’ lives.

“If even one person is happy learning to draw a paper flower, that makes me really happy because I know I’ve actually impacted someone and touched a life,” Vemireddy said.

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