T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital Child Life Program and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile manager Wallis Davies, hospital staff member Jammie Davis, Signal Mountain Middle/High School sophomore Lauren Handley and hospital staff member Frances Gilliem wheel in gifts donated to the hospital’s Child Life Program through a toy drive organized by Lauren at SMHS.
Contributed PhotoAfter volunteering with the Child Life Program at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital this summer, Signal Mountain Middle/High School sophomore Lauren Handley knows firsthand the value of attending to the emotional, social and developmental needs of hospitalized children in addition to treating physical ailments.
“I love getting to help put a smile on a kid’s face if they’re having a bad day or need someone to play with,” she said.
Lauren said she collected toys from SMHS students and EPB construction workers to donate to the Child Life Program, which is dedicated to minimizing the stress of a child’s hospital stay through developmental, therapeutic and educational play.
Child Life Program and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile manager Wallis Davies said each child staying in the hospital on Christmas Eve received a gift, all of which are community donations. Any toys left over after Christmas will be used for birthdays or to impart holiday cheer throughout the year to sick children in need of a pick-me-up, she said.
Lauren, whose sister Katelyn Handley is doing her SMHS senior project on art therapy with the Child Life Program, said she also requested donations of art supplies to be used at the hospital year-round.