JOPLIN, Mo. – Dozens of pillowcases stuffed with toys “created from love and sealed with a hug” were dropped off by 41 students from Neosho’s RISE Elementary School Wednesday morning.

Standing in front of the large Christmas tree gracing Freeman Hospital West’s front lobby, the students posed for a picture before reciting the poem they had penned by hand and tied with ribbon to each pillowcase.

This is the sixth year the school’s first grade students have driven by bus to Freeman Hospital West to deliver the goodies in what Kacie Barratt, Neosho first grade teacher, calls the “Pillowcase Project.”

“The idea is for my students to bring in donations of toys and other items and fill pillowcases for the boys and girls who are in the hospital to help brighten their day,” Barratt said. “I want to turn a scary and stressful experience into something positive and happy. I also want to help ease the stress of the parents.”

The project was created by Barratt and Freeman Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse April Willis back in 2018.

“The children in Pediatrics are typically scared and are away from comforting things such as toys, stuffed animals and games,” Willis said. “Not doubt they need something positive and uplifting to help distract them from their trying time. I was very fortunate to be in on the very beginning of the project and getting to see how it all came together.”

Each pillowcase is stuffed with a variety of items including crayons, coloring books, toy cars, stickers, games, crafting kits, puzzles, dolls, stuffed animals, comfy socks and card games. One bag even showcased a hand puppet of a roaring dinosaur.

“We start the project after Thanksgiving and collect items for about three weeks,” Barratt said. “Over the last two or three years the project has become a project-based learning exercise for my classroom. I try to incorporate as much learning that I can.”

Bethany McGinnis, Assistant Director of Maternal-Neonatal Services at Freeman, collected the pillowcases from the children and, as they left the building, gave each child a high-five for a job well done.

“Some of our patients may miss Christmas and that makes them sad, but you brought presents for them and that’s going to make them so happy,” McGinnis said to the schoolchildren during their visit. “Because of you, they’re going to have the best day ever.”

Aside from the toys and handwritten poem, each student wrote and signed a personal letter to each sick child encouraging them to get better soon.

“I chose to use pillowcases so that the boys and girls could have something to keep with them forever,” Barratt said. “Maybe when they remember their time in the hospital, they remember something happy rather than something scary and sad.”