Cedar Valley students effort service project to donate blankets, stuffed animals to Lehi Primary Children’s Hospital
Two students at Cedar Valley High School have taken on a service project with the hope of brightening the season for children at Lehi’s Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital.
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- An image outlines a service project being efforted by 2 students at Cedar Valley High School.
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- A row of blankets that have been donated as part of the blankets and bears service project are shown in an undated photo.
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- A row of stuffed animals that have been donated as part of the blankets and bears service project are shown in an undated photo.
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- A box blankets that have been donated as part of the blankets and bears service project are shown in an undated photo.
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- A blanket and stuffed animal bundle to delivered as part of a service project is pictured in an undated photo.
Juniors Callie Harris and Hailee Taul are collecting blankets and stuffed animals that will be paired together and delivered in a care bundle to children later this month.
The inspiration for the gesture comes from a number of factors, one being their future career aspirations.
“We are both hoping to go into the medical field, so being able to help out the medical community means a lot to us,” Taul said. “It’s something we are both really passionate about. We also know just how meaningful these donations can be to the children staying at Primary Children’s.”
Both students also wanted to display compassion to children who are under medical care during the holiday season.
“We realize how hard it can be for kids who have to stay at the hospital over the holiday season,” Harris said. “We wanted to do something special for those amazing kids who might not be able to go home for the holidays.”
Their goal is to be able to collect enough items to create 50 bundles to donate to the hospital, where they will distribute them to kids or infants.
According to Primary Children’s Hospital, these acts of kindness not only add a splash of holiday cheer for young patients but also provide a sense of comfort in what can be a difficult time.
“Seasonal in-kind donations provide our patients with a bit of childhood normalcy while on their healing journey and make the hospital a little less scary for kids,” said Jonniece F M Busath, volunteer manager at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in an emailed statement. “We are grateful to live in a community where people think of others and provide generous donations to help our patients and families.”
For Taul and Harris, this is their first year doing the service project, but it’s something they hope to do yearly.
Donations are being accepted through Dec. 11, with plans to deliver the items one week later on Dec. 18.
The students have arranged for several Eagle Mountain area schools to act as drop-off locations. Those who are interested in donating can do so in the front offices at the following sites:
Cedar Valley High School – 1389 Aviator Ave.
Hidden Hollow Elementary School – 7447 Hidden Valley Pkwy.
Pony Express Elementary School – 3985 Smith Ranch Rd.
Interested donors who need to make alternate arrangements to help can send an email to blanketandbears17@gmail.com.
Harris and Taul said donations must be brand new and/or unused. However, they can accept twin-sized blankets, tied fleece blankets, baby blankets or fleece donations as well as small to medium-sized stuffed animals.
They won’t be able to accept any items that have been washed or any blankets or quilts that have been crocheted.
“Holidays aren’t always happy and cheerful for every family. Some families are just hoping for a chance to make it to the holidays with their children,” they said in a statement. “We know that it seems simple and small but a blanket and a new stuffed animal friend that they can call their own can comfort a child that has to stay the holidays in the hospital more than you think.”
