Pitching in: Brooklyn Kiwanis Club collects items for patients

at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor

By Joanie Hauglie
Published: March 29, 2010, in the Jackson Citizen Patriot
http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2010/03/pitching_in_brooklyn_kiwanis_c.html

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - The patients at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor just got some pretty cool stuff thanks to the Brooklyn Kiwanis Club.

On Feb. 9, the club hosted its fourth annual shower for the renowned pediatric hospital. Event organizer Bonnie Bartlett said the gathering, which took place at All Saints Episcopal Church on N. Main Street, produced "a van-load of goodies" for the kids at Mott.

"We had a lot of different items," she said, including knitted hats, stuffed animals, puzzles, books, craft items, blankets and toys.

Bartlett said 34 people turned out for the shower, but many more made arrangements to drop items off at the church.

Among the contributors were the K-Kids from Brooklyn Elementary School and the Key Club at Columbia Central High School, both Kiwanis youth organizations.

In addition, Bartlett received an e-mail from the teacher of the split second/third grade class at East Jackson Memorial Elementary School. Wanting to help out, the students there also collected items for the shower.

"When children hear that children need help, they give. And they feel good about themselves," Bartlett said.

Bartlett said a Mott representative picked up the donated items on Wednesday.

Mott is one of four hospitals the Michigan International Kiwanis Foundation sponsors each year. The other three are in Detroit, Grand Rapids and Traverse City.

 "Each year Michigan Kiwanis Governor's First Lady has a project that she works on," she said. When the shower idea came about, First Lady Joan VanArsdalen of Hillsdale decided her project would be showers for the four hospitals. Its proximity made Mott the best fit for the Brooklyn group.

The annual shower is a genuine labor of love by everybody involved, Bartlett said.

As for her, it is gratifying knowing that she's helping children.

 "I am very grateful to have had four healthy children and eight healthy grandchildren," she said. "To see a child very ill and trying to be brave for mom and dad, it breaks my heart."

Bartlett is convinced those who participate in programs like this one are making the world a better place "one child at a time."

The children at Mott also got a boost last month from students at Napoleon Middle School.

The school's student council raised $300 and bought 100 teddy bears for the hospital's patients. The bears were delivered Feb. 12.

Middle school student council president Ashley Leathead said the experience was a "big reality check" for the students.

"We all learned to be thankful that we are fine and don't have disabilities," she said. "Everyone who does has to be 10 times stronger than we will ever be."