Hills donates 200 chemo care bags to cancer patients
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MINGO JUNCTION -- Second-graders at Hills Elementary School are bringing smiles and support to patients at the Tony Teramana Cancer Center by donating 200 chemo care bags to the facility.
On Friday, 60 students surprised officials with the Trinity Health System Foundation and Steubenville facility in the school gym with dozens of colorful tote bags plus 15 extra boxes full of items to help patients as they undergo treatment. They were filled with snacks, games, journals, blankets and various personal care products to comfort them while at the cancer center. Teacher Sarah Hibbits has organized the service-learning project for the past eight years and said more than 1,200 bags have been given during that time.
"We love to partner with Trinity and this project has been so incredible," Hibbits said.
A collection was held this winter and students, parents and community members played benefactor by gathering items or contributing money to acquire products. The bags include individually packaged snacks, saltines, bottled water, Gatorade, gum, mints, hard candy, Tootsie Pop and Dum-Dum suckers, tuna and chicken lunch packs with crackers, Chapstick, lotion, Biotene or other dry mouth products, wet wipes, tissues, Sea Band wristbands, reusable plastic cups or water bottles, hats, scarves, blankets, slipper socks, puzzle books, adult coloring books, notebooks, journals, pocket calendars, playing cards, pens and pencils as well as puzzles, card games, Bibles, ear buds and stress reliever balls. The students also created cards while teacher Kim Wadas crocheted Worry Worms as further sources of support.
The students helped pack the bags prior to the giveaway and fourth-graders helped fill a school district van and Bates Amusements box truck to deliver to the Teramana Cancer Center later that day. Hibbits was joined by teachers Amanda Roach and Kim Carnahan as well as a few Indian Creek High School baseball players to unload the items in Steubenville.
Foundation officials were touched by the continued act of kindness and praised the students for their dedication.
"It's amazing," said Patient Advocate Marsha Lewis. "Our patients love them, and I think it's an inspiration that second-graders are learning about giving."
"You are truly the bright spot and should be so proud," said foundation Manager Catherine Poludniak. "Every year the patients look forward to them. It's truly heartwarming at the foundation to see the kids getting involved. They are all affected by cancer, and this gives them an outlet to do something special and make a difference."
The students also received smiley cookies and wristbands as tokens of appreciation since they have put smiles on the faces of patients and the center's staff members. Several children also shared their reasons for supporting the cause, with several noting how they wanted to put the patients at ease.
"I really like helping people and I wanted people to feel better," said William Blakovich.
"This really means a lot to me because we get to help the patients," added Colt Collette.
The project holds a special meaning for Hibbits, who was inspired by a discussion with her mother, who also underwent treatment and wondered whether other patients had support during their stay. It then became Hibbits' mission to help, and she added that it has been a true labor of love.
"We really want to thank the community for always supporting us, the parents and students who have been benefactors, former patients who want to make sure this keeps going and the Teramana Cancer Center. Most importantly, I want to thank the students for all the hard work they did to collect items for the bags and share their well wishes. We hope the patients know we wanted to bring them some comfort, and hopefully the bags do a little bit of that."