Students Give To Children’s Hospital

PRAIRIE GROVE — One second grade class at Prairie Grove Primary School used the Christmas season this year to give to patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

“I wanted them to be able to see the blessings that they already have in their lives and have compassion for those less fortunate,” said Tracy Tice, their second- grade teacher. “I want them to remember the giving of the season.”

Tice said the idea to give to the children’s hospital came from one of her students, Kinnison Hamilton.

For the past two years, Kinnison and another classmate, Lily Davis, both have used their birthday parties to help others, instead of receiving gifts for themselves.

For Kinnison’s seventh birthday, she asked her friends to bring donations for the animal shelter.

For her eighth birthday, she requested gifts for Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Kinnison is familiar with the hospital, she said, because her sister has gone there.

“I like helping people and all that,” Kinnison said.

Lily said she came up with the idea to use her birthday parties to help others after looking around at her own room.

“Well, I have like way too many toys and my closet would fill up,” Lily said.

For her seventh birthday party, her friends brought food for the animal shelter.

“We were adopting a puppy and I felt sad for the animals,” Lily said. “I started crying in the car. I thought the animals needed cat food and dog food to help keep them healthy.”

For her eighth birthday, friends brought gifts to donate to a children’s center in northwest Arkan- sas.

The students brought many items to give to the children’s hospital, including baby dolls, a pillow, stuffed animals, and useful items, such as shampoo and deodorant.

Lily said she liked the idea of giving to the children’s hospital.

“I thought it was really special,” she said.

Judge Hyler, 7, said he brought three toys: a toy gun, a two- faced Batman and a toy snake.

“I thought it was a good thing because I know they don’t have toys to play with,” Judge said. “I hope they will feel better soon.”

COURTESY PHOTO Second-grade students in Tracy Tice’s class at Prairie Grove Primary School brought new toys this year to donate to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Tice hoped the project would allow families the opportunity to talk about giving to others.