Elkton Club's Hospital Doll Project

by Dale Collins

The Kiwanis Club of Elkton enlisted the assistance of the Tome School in North East to help with their Kiwanis Hospital Doll Project. On Nov. 10th which was designated a "Day of Service" at the Tome School, students from 9th through 12th grade spent blocks of time involved in all aspects of assembling a completed doll. The students traced patterns on material and then cut them out. Some dolls that were already sewn together needed to be stuffed and then have the side opening sewn shut. The completed dolls were then placed in plastic bags with a note to be distributed to their final destination.

The handmade dolls are used to soothe young children in hospitals who may need comforting as result of a sickness or injury. They can be drawn on by the child or a doctor trying to explain a procedure to be done. They are small and soft and can be very comforting to someone in pain or frightened by a doctor's presence. The dolls are currently being distributed to Union Hospital in Elkton and will also be available to additional clinics or local groups where children might need comforting in a traumatic situation.