The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The Union Church of LaHarpe Youth Group has taken on a unique new ministry. Every few months the youth of the church put together gift bags to deliver to the patients in the Iowa City Children's Hospital. The group has contributed well over 300 of these bags so far. The Youth are allowed to deliver the bags to each patient on the day they visit the hospital. Then gift bags are given to patients when they enter into the hospital and periodically during extended hospital stays.
Each gift bag contains things like toys, games, stickers, personal care items, disposable cameras, journals, and stuffed animals. Some bags are geared for older patients, others for younger patients. Each gift bag contains a self-addressed envelope to the church to encourage communication with the child who helped prepare the bag. The young people of the church hope to be able to encourage patients through their letters and prayers as well as through the gift bags.
Due to strict regulations, religious items cannot be put into the bags, and only four or five young people can personally go to deliver the bags. The Union Youth have accepted these restrictions, and worked hard to work within the parameters given them. The hospital has expressed enthusiastic appreciation for the hard work and generosity of the youth. They have received scores of notes from patients and their parents. The parents usually share some of their struggles and thank the youth for the bags. The church youth have gained a new understanding of some of the suffering faced by others and a new appreciation for their own blessings.
The gift bags are made possible through the donations from the congregation. For more information on how you can help support this program, contact Dave Clover, coordinator of the program, at 659-7784.