Elementary Students Donate Gift Baskets to Patients
Students at West End Elementary School in Rome are learning the impact of the small things they can do to help others. The children recently made gift baskets for patients who are cared for by Cancer Navigators. They delivered them to the office and even had the opportunity to meet some of the patients.
The students are part of a club called ITW (Imagine the World). Katie Cumming, one of the school counselors, created the club. “It started as an idea to expose our kids to community service and give them an opportunity to show kindness to others and to each other,” said Katie. “Because I have students who have been served by Cancer Navigators, I immediately thought of what a difference it has made in their lives.”
Katie said the club was very excited about helping cancer patients. They decided to provide items that patients would need at their bedside, or that would encourage them and make them feel more comfortable.
Some of the items in the baskets included:
- Journals
- Crossword puzzles
- Suduko books
- Pens, markers and pencils
- Tissues
- Hand sanitizer
- Hard candies
To raise money for the project, the students made note cards by hand-stenciling them and coloring them with markers, and sold them at their fall festival. Katie says they sold so many orders it took them a month to make the cards. They also accepted donations to help purchase the items.
Katie says she is very grateful for all the services Cancer Navigators provides to patients and their families. “They make a difference every single day in the lives of many. I am so thankful that my students were able to see service in action. Visiting their facility was just a pleasure, and I can’t thank them enough for the impact it made on my students.”