TEMPLE, Texas — Students with the Temple High School chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) are hoping to make the holidays a little brighter for children and families in the hospital this December.
According to Temple ISD, Temple High's NHS chapter is participating in a community service project by collecting donations to put together care packages for patients at the Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center.
The students are accepting donations of items like lotions, lip balms, holiday socks, card games, small notebooks and more. The students are also collecting shoeboxes and wrapping paper to package the items up, and are creating personalized holiday cards to include with each of the care packages.
Temple ISD said the project is the latest of several community service projects the 150-member chapter has undertaken.
“I really hope that people in the hospital feel more connected to the community,” said Reeva Guleria, Temple HS senior and NHS secretary. “Especially when you are in the hospital for a really long, extended time, you don’t have that personal connection with society or the community outside the hospital. We hope that putting together these packages will help them feel that connection. It feels really good, like I am doing something for the area where I live, and I hope this makes an impact.”
“We have had a really good influx of items and volunteers coming in and people are really getting invested in this project,” added Jayden Bihl, Temple HS senior and NHS president. “We have seen a lot of people who are not in NHS donate and that is really good because we are getting a lot of school input and not just our club. I want the families to feel like they can have some sort of celebration for the holidays.”
According to the district, the idea to make the care packages started with one of the chapter's members who has experienced health challenges of their own, and the idea was then approved by a vote of the entire chapter.
The project originated from and is entirely organized and driven by the members of Temple High's NHS, said Temple ISD.
“I really love seeing the students get involved this way,” said Staci Bangsund, Temple High School teacher and NHS sponsor. “All of the students in NHS are highly driven academically. At Temple High School, we are not only providing an outstanding education for these kids, we are not only hoping that they go do outstanding things for themselves, but the ultimate goal of education is to equip students to use their minds, and creativity, and education, to go out and make the world a better place. So, it is wonderful to see them seeing the purpose of their education in action and positively impacting their community. I know that they will take this spirit of service with them as they continue.”
Temple ISD said the NHS chapter hopes to create a care package for each of the hospital's 64 beds, but will continue to accept donations if they pass that goal.
The students are collecting donations through Tuesday, Dec. 17. The donations will be packaged and wrapped before being delivered to the hospital on Friday, Dec. 20.
Those who wish to donate can bring their donations to Temple High School or reach out to Bangsund at Staci.bangsund@tisd.org.