HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM COLLECTION / ASSEMBLY / CRAFT PROJECTS
What Is It?: A healthcare system that cares for all residents of Harris County and includes community health centers, school-based clinics, mobile health units, a rehabilitation and specialty hospital, and two full-service hospitals.
Help Needed: Prepare Waiting Room Survival Kits, Toiletry Kits, or Diversion Kits; collect books, magazines, toys, or inexpensive prizes; or make baby hats, no-sew blankets, or other items.
Minimum Age to Volunteer: All ages are welcome to collect, assemble, and make items.
Help Needed
PREPARE WAITING ROOM SURVIVAL KITS
Provide comfort, food and an activity for family members waiting on news of their loved ones. These kits are utilized in the emergency center, surgery waiting areas, radiology and the labor and delivery family areas. Kits include: bottle of water, soup in a cup, prepackaged nonperishable snack (cereal bar, cookies, crackers, candy bars, fruit cup, etc.), pencil, and an activity book. Items may be donated in bulk or assembled into individual packages.
COLLECT BOOKS & MAGAZINES
Patients and family members throughout our facilities enjoy having something to read while they wait. Groups can organize a book or magazine drive. New and gently used children’s books are needed. Magazines should be in good condition, no more than 6 months old and appropriate for all ages. Books and magazines in Spanish are especially needed. The Community Involvement department will cover up the mailing address on donated magazines.
COLLECT TOYS
Children cope with being in a hospital setting much better when they have something to play with for distraction purposes. Groups can organize a toy drive using the Harris Health System Donation Wish List. Harris Health cares for pediatric patients, ages newborn to 18 years old, in the hospital setting as well as the clinic setting.
COLLECT PRIZES
Prizes for special events and games, such as bingo, are always welcome. The prizes should be new and inexpensive ($5 or less). All family members – from children to adults – participate, so we are grateful for prizes that appeal to all ages (toys, games, T-shirts, etc.)
PREPARE TOILETRY KITS
Toiletry kits are distributed to patients in all patient care areas who are unable to obtain these supplies on their own. The kits include travel-size essentials such as: toothbrush / toothpaste, shampoo / conditioner, comb / brush, deodorant, mouthwash, and a Ziploc bag to hold items. Items may be donated in bulk or assembled into individual packages.
PREPARE DIVERSION KITS
Provide entertainment for those waiting on loved ones. These kits are distributed to patients and family members in the emergency center, radiology, and labor and delivery waiting areas. Kits include: pencil, activity book, magazine or handheld game, and a Ziploc bag to hold items. Items may be donated in bulk or assembled into individual packages.
MAKE BLANKETS, HATS, OR OTHER ITEMS
Our patients love receiving handmade items while in the hospital, such as crocheted/knitted baby hats, baby blankets, wheelchair bags, pillows, pillowcases, etc. Items must be washed before delivered and come from a smoke-free environment.
No-sew blankets provide comfort and warmth for patients receiving chemotherapy treatments, radiation therapy or who are in the hospital for an extended stay. Materials needed: 2 yards of fleece in complementing colors or patterns (per blanket), scissors and seam rippers.
Making baby hats is an easy way to give to the hospital if have times in your life where you’re sitting around waiting or watching something. Each hat takes me about 90 minutes. There are instructions somewhere on the hospital site I think, but basically you get a round loom from Joann or Michaels or online and some really fat soft yarn, and sort of loop and twist the yarn into a hat using the loom. Its actually pretty easy and its fun to see the yarn turn into a hat. Then you can put the hats in plastic bags. The hospital gives them to newborn babies.