|
||||||||
| Church Provides ‘Lids for Kids' to Cancer Ward | |||||||||
|
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bald heads are the norm around the cancer ward at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, where chemotherapy typically robs young patients of both their hair and their youthful energy. But brightly colored hats in all styles are a welcome special delivery that brings smiles to children fighting the ravages of the disease. Through the "Lids for Kids" ministry of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in nearby Hendersonville, a group of United Methodist Men collected nearly a thousand hats this year as part of its annual service project. "This is faith in action. ... It's putting feet on prayers," says the Rev. Allen Weller, senior pastor of the congregation. Or, more specifically, lids on kids. Two-year-old Cody lights up when handed a green plastic Army hat "just like Daddy wears," according to the toddler's mom. In the next room, 6-year-old Alijah Prado studies three hats – a knit cap with bright blue flames, a Tennessee Titans football cap and a Nashville Predators hockey hat. He finally decides to wear all three at once. In 2006, church members donated around a hundred hats. This year, the harvest was tenfold as word of the ministry spread. "People love to help, people like to share, people like to care, and this was such a simple but important way," says Weller. Members of the church youth group decorated large collection bins for the cause. Alissa Walker, 16, gets especially excited when she comes upon hats donated just for little girls "There's just a bunch of guy hats, but when the girls see the cute little frilly hats, they'll get real excited," she says. The lids are sorted and sterilized and then delivered in person on a cart pushed from room to room at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. Volunteers try to match hats to kids. Two-year-old Matthew quickly tries on one bearing the name of his favorite movie. Though it's adult-sized and must be adjusted accordingly, the grin on Matthew's face indicates the lid is a perfect fit. "It's always good to see him smile and laugh ... and when you hand him a Star Wars hat, it always perks his little face up," says mom Gina Butterfield. |
|
||||||||
 |
 |