Third Graders use mini grant for babies and seniors

The Fort HealthCare Great Expectations Birthing Center and Home Health departments are grateful recipients of blankets for newborn and thermometers and scales for seniors, thanks to two Rockwell Elementary School third graders, Morgan Miles and Allysa Mullen. The pair got creative with their “Blankets for Babies / Supplies for Seniors” campaign which lead to outstanding results.

The girls were awarded a $50 mini-grant, sponsored by the Blackhawk Chapter of Vietnam Veterans and offered through the School District of Fort Atkinson, then used the funds to purchase blanket supplies. Morgan and Allysa did their research to make sure the blankets could be used in the birthing center, even coming to the hospital to measure the current blankets. Forty-one blankets were made and sold for $10 each. The purchased blankets were donated to the birthing center and the funds raised purchased a scale and seven thermometers for Fort HealthCare’s Home Health department.

The mini-grant program provides children with an opportunity to give back to their community, and introduces them to community service and helping others. Manager of the birthing center, Deb Schumacher, RN, said, “We are always so grateful to be able to provide these wonderful gifts to the new babies born here.” Home Health manager, Terri Peterson, RN added, “It is inspirational to see children motivated to help others. The time Morgan and Allysa invested in this project is phenomenal. We, and our patients, are so grateful.”

Morgan and Allysa, who just completed third grade with Mrs. Lori Held, noted that, “when everyone contributes a little, big things will happen.” In fact, the girls had one of the highest grossing mini-grant projects in the program’s recent history.