S.O.S. -- Sending Our Sunshine
A need at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center was brought to our attention. The NICU had recently been renovated to include laundry facilities for the families. The families had to provide their own laundry detergent to wash their baby’s clothes. The staff conveyed the difficulty for families in remembering detergent due to dealing with the well-being of their baby. We were also reminded of the long periods of time that families spend at the hospital and how books or crossword puzzles might help them pass time. The students and staff at Guffey were ready to help. The students created an activity that related to their curriculum for the families. Many students used vocabulary words to create word searches and crossword puzzles. Others created journals for the families to log their feelings in daily. In addition, students created poetry books and bookmarks, while the school community donated laundry detergent. We then filled bags with the activities created by students as well as laundry detergent and other donated items. The students reflected on this service learning project and celebrated the differences they had made in the lives of others who were going through a difficult time.