A local group of do-gooders stopped by the Humboldt General Hospital Emergency
Department recently to share gifts for that facility’s youngest patients.
In all, the Lowry High School Key Club donated 200 plastic containers filled
with tiny stuffed animals, crayons, toys and other goodies to give away
to sick or injured kids.
Emergency Department officials were delighted with the canisters and said
they would begin putting them to good use right away.
“The kids are going to love this,” said Emergency Services
Manager Rita Clement. “This is such a neat donation.”
Key Club Advisor Daralee Millikan said the donation has been more than
a year in the making. Last year, her group applied for a grant through
Kiwanis International’s Youth Opportunities Fund, and they were
awarded $1,250.
“The kids wanted to do something for the children at the hospital,”
explained Millikan.
But first, they had to submit their ideas to Kiwanis via a detailed application
process. Once they secured the grant and Kiwanis’ permission, members
of the club met before school began in August to begin the final stages.
On Wednesday, December 2, four representatives joined Millikan to make
their donation, including Lowry High School senior student Nakiya Flores,
and sophomore students Trenna Millikan, Patricia Lamminar, and Halle Sullivan.
Millikan, who has been involved with Key Club for 13 years, said she currently
has about a dozen students in the club.
“It’s a chance for them to do good things,” she said
of members, “to learn how it feels to give service.”
Emergency Department officials said they were certainly pleased to be the
recipients of such kindness. Clement said her goal is for every patient
to have an exceptional experience in the ER.
“This really helps with the little guys,” she said. “It’s
hard being a kid and being sick, so that makes this donation even more
special.”
Key Club is the oldest and largest service program for high school students.
It is a student-led organization that teaches leadership through service
to others. Key Club members are also members of the Kiwanis International family.