By Shonna Korsmoe
Murphy News Service
Alanna Worrall knows how it feels to be a child staying at the hospital. She remembers how scary it was and how things like bubbles, toys and board games made her feel better.
When she was in kindergarten, Alanna had surgery around Easter time. She asked her mom, “Does the Easter Bunny bring Easter baskets to the hospital?” When her mother responded, “Yes,” Alanna decided she wanted to help. She emptied out her piggy bank and had enough money to create four Easter baskets, which she delivered to patients in the hospital.
Now a fifth-grader at Earle Brown Elementary in Brooklyn Center, Alanna has committed to help other children in the hospital feel better and less afraid. For the past five years, she has made Feel Better Baskets for patients at Gillette Children’s Hospital. She fills Easter baskets in the spring and sand pails in the summer with treats, toys, games, craft supplies — and especially bubbles.
“I think kids should be able to feel like kids,” Alanna said about why she creates the baskets.
The number of baskets Alanna is able to create increases each year as she raises more money through donations from friends, family, her church and local businesses.
At a Girl Scout event a few years ago, Alanna met Ashlee Kephart, who runs Kids For A Better World, a non-profit organization in Brooklyn Park. Kephart put a donation link on her website for Alanna’s Feel Better Baskets, which drew in more donations. Since then, Alanna has worked with Kids For A Better World each year to raise donations and buy supplies for the baskets.
Even her elementary school has pitched in. Every month, Earle Brown Elementary students participate in “Hat Day/Jeans Day.” Students may pay $1 to wear a hat, and teachers and faculty can pay $5 to wear jeans. The money collected is donated to a charity.
Last Tuesday, Alanna’s program was the chosen charity. Alanna said she felt “amazing” to have her charity be picked. Students and faculty raised $649.17, all of which will go to providing children in the hospital with Easter baskets or other needs.
Alanna’s mother, Jana Worrall, said Alanna makes all the baskets herself. Worrall also said Alanna calls Gillette hospital to see what else is needed. One year, Alanna raised money to buy video games and DVDs for the patient library. This year, Alanna said she wants to buy board games for the patients.
“I know from personal experience it is really nice to have board and card games in the hospital,” she said.
Alanna said it makes her feel happy to deliver the baskets to patients. “I just love the feeling to make kids feel good!”
To learn more about Alanna and her Feel Better Baskets or to make a donation, visit www.razoo.com/story/Feelbetterbaskets.
Shonna Korsmoe is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.