Part of our mission here at Voorhees Pediatric Facility is to provide an atmosphere of caring for our residents. We host many types of organizations who make regular visits to bring comfort and joy to the children and staff. From dance class visits to special superhero appearances, one organization we are especially fond of working with is the musical duo, Two Of A Kind. In June 2023 Two Of A Kind made many wishes come true when they returned to play for a full house.
Its members, David Heitler-Klevans and Jenny Heitler-Klevans, have been playing music together since they first met at Oberlin College 36 years ago. Having a lot in common, they decided on the band name Two Of A Kind. As fate would have it they later became parents to identical twin boys. Together, the couple works with Pickleberry Pie, an organization which enlists singers and bands to play concerts for kids at hospitals and facilities in locations around the country.
Jenny specializes in percussion instruments while David rocks his guitar, and both and both sing and write songs. Together, they bring a contagious positive lasting energy that puts anyone attending one of their concerts in a better mood. As Jenny explains, “We can see when we’re coming into a place and we’re singing, how it transforms the room. The kids get happier, it helps the caregivers, it’s a great distraction from some of the difficult medical procedures the kids have to deal with when they’re in the hospital. Music really makes a difference for them.”
The pair have been performing at Voorhees Pediatric Facility since before the onset of Covid-19 in 2020. Two Of A Kind performs a combination of timeless children’s melodies such a ‘Wheels On The Bus’, along with original content such as Jenny’s written fan favorite, ‘I Am A Turtle’. When asked what he loves the most about performing, David shares, “How responsive the children are to our music. You can see it in their eyes and their actions when they really like something and it means something to them, the response is immediate and honest.”
While the children eagerly await another visit from Two Of A Kind, Voorhees Pediatric Facility continues to seek and schedule visits from organizations who aim to bring comfort and joy, with the goal of always creating an atmosphere of caring for the whole child.
