Visit and Delivery to Shriners Hospital

After spending time at Silver Mesa, Peruvian Park, Neil Armstrong Academy and the Activity Day girls, I had LOTS of donations for Shriners hospital.  The back of the car was full!  Several boxes of great toys and books!  A huge stack of cards! Gift Bags! and Blankets!  I was so proud to represent all the wonderful youth who served with their talents and their resources to help make another child in the hospital have a brighter day!

My wonderful guy, Nick Nielson, joined me at Shriners and helped get all the donations into Shriners.

I was hoping to actually help deliver the toys and cards to the children, but due to privacy laws needed to leave them at the front desk.  I was assured, however, that they would DEFINITELY be given to the children and put to great use. In fact, they expected to give them out that day! 

I really didn't know much about Shriners hospital for children except that they provided service to children with no consideration as to whether or not the service can be paid for.  I love that about Shriners!  I also was so grateful to take the cards and donations to Shriners as I feel it is often overlooked as most service for children's hospitals in Utah goes to Primary Children's Hospital (don't get me wrong, I love Primary Children's hospital and volunteered there weekly for 6 months in 2013 and 2014).  

Wow - did I learn a LOT about Shriners, however, from the personal tour they provided me!  I didn't realize that the Shriners organization founded the hospitals in response to polio after WWII.  I also learned how generous donors are to allow them to provide all the services they make available to patients.  They have a beautiful facility.  I didn't realize that they focus on orthopaedic conditions here in Salt Lake City.  And, that they have many patients from out of state and from Mexico.  (In fact, as we walked around the hospital, I met two children and their mother's from Mexico and had a chance to brush up on my spanish while speaking with them!).

I love that they have personalized, sized to fit prosthetics for the children and that they have custom, sized to fit wheel chairs for them as they grow.

As I am studying to be a nurse myself, I not only toured the facility thinking of the children and the great services provided, but also of the caregivers and the great love they have for children.  I met many amazing caregivers on the tour!

Shriners is another organization to consider as you look for places to serve.  I love that their mission for children "is carried out without regard to race, color, creed, sex or sect, disability, national origin or ability of a patient or family to pay."

http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/

Neil Armstrong Academy

When I switched schools in 4th grade from Waterford to Oakridge, my 4th grade teacher was Mrs. Smith.  She was an amazing teacher - very loving and interested in her students.  It was very difficult switching schools, but without Mrs. Smith, my year would have been impossible!

She is no longer at Oakridge, but she and Mrs. Rolan (from Oakridge) had the great opportunity to be 2nd grade teachers at a NEW, INCREDIBLE elementary school, Neil Armstrong Academy!  Let me tell you, I wish elementary schools were like this when I was in elementary school - iPads for all the students, beautiful open school design with so many windows, a greenhouse that is utilized by all the students, and the library would be a definite favorite spot!

I was able to meet with both Pam Smith's class as well as Jan Rolan's class while at Neil Armstrong Academy. 

In Mrs. Smith's class - I wore a microphone as we talked about service.  They also had their school administration in the room filming the event.

The kids were so excited to brainstorm ideas for service.  They paid great attention to everything I said (that crown does create an aura :)).

Their cards for Shriners hospital were fabulous! Mrs. Rolan's class even made pop-up cards - talk about creative!!

I got the hugs and high fives at the end of each class as they gave me their great card creations in exchange for autograph cards.  One girl embraced me and told me, "I want to be just like you when I grow up".  What a kind thing to say - and helped me know how much of a role model I am for these kids as I visit them as Miss Utah International! I was very humbled by the comment and touched!

I can't wait to visit Neil Armstrong Academy again!  Keep those Handz doing good!

Blankets For Shriners Hospital

Later in the day,  I had the opportunity to meet a group of cute Activity Day girls (ages 8-11) at the Sandy Library!

Prior to the event, I received donations of fleece to use to make blankets for Shiners hospital.  (Shriners is always in need of blankets as every child receives a blanket at the hospital).  

Thanks to my mom for helping prepare for the event by cutting strips at the edges of the blankets so the girls could focus on tying them during the activity.

When the girls arrived, we talked again about our handz and discussed all the things that handz can do for good.  These girls selected something to write on their paper hand that they would do for good in the coming week.

  

They were all so excited to tie the blankets and get them ready for the children in the hospital!

Look at the finished blankets - they really did such a great job!

Thanks to these young ladies who also brought gently used toys and

books to donate to the children at Shriners!