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Boardman students deliver blankets to Akron Children's Hospital
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Boardman Center Middle School seventh-grader Angelina Holzschuh works Thursday on a blanket to send to Akron Children’s Hospital, where she once was treated for cancer. Several students at the middle school made about 40 blankets for sick children who have to stay the night at the hospital.
By Kalea Hall
Boardman
Angelina Holzschuh knows what it’s like to be stricken with cancer at a young age.
The 13-year-old went through treatment at Akron Children’s Hospital in Boardman when she was 6 years old.
On Wednesday, Holzschuh and several other students at Boardman Center Middle School made blankets for children at the hospital.
“It feels good to give because when I was in the hospital, I had a ton of these particular blankets,” Holzschuh said. “I think it will make the children feel good.”
This was the first time the fifth-, eighth- and some seventh-grade students made gifts to take to the children who have to spend the night at the hospital.
“Thank you for making a difference today,” guidance counselor Mindy DePietro said to the students as they finished up their fleece tie blankets.
Students crowded around the blankets, adorned with lime-green stars, robots, bananas, footballs and more in the small auditorium to make sure they were perfectly tied and ready to go off to the hospital.
Forty-six eighth-grade students who are a part of the “Where Everyone Belongs” program helped 160 fifth-grade students with the blankets. WEB — a national program — was brought to the school four years ago as a way to help the new, younger students make the transition from elementary school to middle school with the help of the older students.
“The transition from elementary to middle school can be difficult for kids,” DePietro said. “The eighth-grade students know how to be successful in middle school, and we want to teach [fifth-grade students] how to be successful.”
The students brought in toys for the children’s hospital, but DePietro thought to give students the avenue to make the gift and a difference in a sick child’s life.
“It’s just kids helping kids,” DePietro said.
DePietro set a goal of 34 blankets, and reached about 40, if not more. After the blanket-delivery, the students headed out for caroling at three nursing homes.
The hospital in Boardman is always in need of blankets because each child who stays is given one along with a stuffed animal.
“This is so wonderful,” said Arlene Carter, officer coordinator for volunteer services at Akron Children’s Hospital. “It’s an incredible blessing.”
DePietro hopes to continue the blanket project next year and in years to come.
“Every child there is given a blanket for, hopefully, a positive memory to go home with,” DePietro said to her students.