Students collect crayons for Children’s Mercy
Sophomore art major Taylor Smith donates money to Alpha Sigma Tau to help them collect new boxes of crayons for Children’s Mercy. Alpha Sigma Tau will collect boxes of crayons and donations through this week.
Lingzi Su/The Bulletin
When Adrienn Clark, sophomore political science major, noticed a flyer on the counter at Pizza Hut about the business’ efforts to help Children’s Mercy Hospital, she knew she wanted to get involved.
Clark came up with the idea for Alpha Sigma Tau, a group that is currently seeking re-recognition as a Registered Student Organization, to collect crayons for children in the hospital. The group then decided to make it a campus-wide event.
“Alpha Sigma Tau decided to host the Crayon Drive because it exhibits one of our core values, graciousness,” Clark said. “Philanthropy is also very important to us as an organization, and we strive to be involved with the community and to create positive change in the world. The crayons that we collect are going to be dropped off at Pizza Hut, where they will be sent to Children’s Mercy Hospital locations across the country.”
A total of 305 boxes of crayons were collected.
Many children at Children’s Mercy are in life-threatening conditions, and some need long periods of surgeries, which can lead to long hospital stays, Clark said.
“I don’t think I can imagine how it is like for the children in the hospital being very sick and not really having anything to do. So these crayons and the pictures that are available to color will help brighten their days and make things better for them and their families,” said Kelcie Pusch, senior psychology major.
Sharon Messmer, senior elementary education major, said that she “could not agree with (Pusch) more.” Instead of focusing on their illnesses, Messmer said the children can concentrate on making something for their families.
As for Clark, “brighten some of their darkest days” is simply stating what the effect of the boxes of crayons will have on the child that receives them.
“Can you imagine the smiles on the childrens’ faces when they receive a box of crayons? It will be so powerful because something as simple as crayons allows them to return to being a normal child and helps to distract them from the pain and challenges they face every day,” Clark said.
The table in the Memorial Union did not only collect boxes of crayons, but also monetary donations, which will be used for purchasing more boxes of crayons.
“It’s good for kids because they are not able to do something in school. I try to help, you know it is not much, but a little bit could help,” said Leslye Soto, freshman crime and delinquency major.