One never knows when the opportunity to make a difference will present itself. For 18-year old Megan Stahl of Nixa, the idea came during a trip to the hospital. She was visiting a patient who mentioned how much he enjoyed receiving get-well cards.
“He said he liked getting cards better than getting flowers because the cards lasted longer,” says Stahl.
Stahl realized supplying cards to patients would not only brighten their hospital stay, but could help her complete a project to achieve her Girl Scouts “Gold Award.”
Stahl got to work and one year later, she delivered 1,200 get-well cards, many of them hand-made, to Springfield hospitals. Cox South received 600 of the cards.
“Some patients who are in the hospital don’t have any visitors or they don’t have family close enough to visit,” Stahl says. “I hope the cards will lift their spirits.”
Stahl worked all year on the project. She collected get-well cards and asked children in the community to make others. Stahl had a booth at the Discovery Center and at various community events, asking people to sign the cards and to create their own for people in the hospital.
“She was an absolute delight and was so excited to bring us the cards,” says Barth Fraker of Volunteer Services. “This is a huge gift of time and caring for our hospital and our patients.”
Guest Services director Debbie Stange says her team of Guest Services representatives will deliver the cards to patients as they visit patient rooms.
“This will definitely put a smile on our patients’ faces,” says Stange. “We appreciate Megan’s hard work and her kindness.”
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