Grade 5 Citizen Leaders Give From Their Hearts on Valentine’s Day

Thanks to the passionate dedication of Maggie Menkus, Grade 6 Head of Grade/Middle School Community Service Coordinator, along with Grade 5 Head of Grade Jenny Novoselsky and all of the fifth grade teachers, the relationship between Mount Vernon and vital local partner Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) continues to develop strong roots.
This year, the 80 students in fifth grade pledged to work with CHOA through a year-long service project to serve and support the hospital in a variety of ways.
As Valentine’s Day approached, the students embraced an opportunity to share the well and provide joy to CHOA patients. Aware that children spend days, weeks and sometimes months in the hospital, fifth graders decided to collect books and Valentine’s Day cards to deliver to those children who wouldn’t be home for the holiday or be able to attend class celebrations.
CHOA’s Director of Development, Melisa Morrow, came to the School to pick up the hundreds of books our students were excited to contribute. Novoselsky remarked, “We’re going to need a gurney to transport all of those books!”
Later, Morrow sent a message to be shared with our generous students, “Thank you all for your efforts. I went straight to Scottish Rite and made the delivery. The books were delivered directly to the library and it took five wagon loads. Children’s appreciates your continued generosity and I know the cards brightened each patient’s day.”
Morrow further explains the impact our students made, “We have a fully functioning library with a librarian and volunteers. Patients can check out books to take to their room. We have story time for patients and staff also travel the floors with a cart full of books for patients to choose from. Our hospital treats babies all the way through 21 years.”
“The wagons are significant at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta because patients ride in them and also they are used for transport. I wanted you all to realize the magnitude of your donation in that it took five trips to deliver the books.”
Thank you, fifth grade, for being selfless citizen leaders and for making such a significant impact!