Service Project for Kids: Help the Hospital

By Sheila @ Pennies of Time
October 25, 2012

Service projects and acts of kindness that can help the hospital!

There are two elements to consider when planning to help a hospital 1) patient privacy and 2) infectious diseases. Hospitals need to protect their patients, and so service projects need to make sure that they do not cause concern in those two areas, in particular. Also, we need to make sure that our little ones are kept safe from germs as well.

To get this going, I started contacting the Volunteer Coordinators in the local hospitals. You may be given another person to contact. Be prepared for a general sense of “nice idea, Lady, but what can kids do” . . . and don’t let it derail you. Give them time to think about it, be prepared with suggestions, and be open to the ideas that they have. Follow-up if you haven’t heard back from them and then don’t forget to close the communication loop to let them know what you have decided to do.

What we are doing (and they are all called “secret” because we are Secret “Service” Agents, ssshhhhhhh):

Secret Task #1: Place “Coin Bags” at the Vending Machines (the kids LOVE this one)

Secret Task #2: Deliver Thank You Flowers to the Nurses’ Stations (this is what the hospital wanted)

Secret Task #3: Deliver “Smile Cards” for the hospital to deliver to patients

At the beginning of the party, we’ll make get well cards with jokes and take them to the hospital.

Secret Task #4: Make and Deliver “Busy Books” for children in the hospital

Secret Task #5: Toiletry Kits . . . explanation from the Children’s Hospital
Toiletry Bags – Our patient families often come unprepared to spend the

night. Assemble small bags of personal items including shampoo, conditioner,toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, hairbrush and any items that the familieswould need. We recommend these items be travel size.