| Lyon Kids Collect Toys For Hospitals | |||
| By Juanie Prisbrey Moapa Valley Progress Published Oct. 7, 2009 The posters displayed on the walls at Mack Lyon Middle School announced the start of the Happy Hospital Drive. During the week of the drive, the broadcasting club aired a segment each day during morning announcements to promote the activity, which was sponsored by BETA club and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). Students were encouraged to bring in donations of toys, books, magazines, stuffed animals, DVD’s, baby clothes, and other items that would make patients’ hospital stays more comfortable. When the hospital drive ended last week, the student body had responded by donating more than 400 items. |
 BETA club and NJHS members from Mack Lyon Middle School show donations collected during a recent hospital drive. Pictured back row (L to R) Jessie Morwood, Shannon Wallace, Natalie Adams; front row (L to R) Dakota Burke, Chad Jones, Jeremy Waite |
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| BETA advisor, Crystal Blackwell, said the donations will benefit University Medical Center in Las Vegas and St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson.
“The hospitals were interested in receiving donations from our school,” Blackwell said. “They usually don’t get donations from this age group.” For long term patients, children, and rehab patients, a small item can sometimes make a big difference. In some instances babies are born to families who are unable to afford basic necessities such as blankets and baby clothes. Also, a stuffed animal can be a comforting friend for a child after surgery. Once all the items had been collected, BETA and NJHS members came together to sort and box the donations for delivery. The students initially came up with the idea for the hospital drive during their Leadership Retreat in August. NJHS advisor, Jared Meyer said this was a great service project for the students, because they were committed to the project from the beginning, and they worked together for a good cause. |
