CHILDREN who have to stay in hospital will have something to make their days a little brighter, thanks to kind-hearted staff at an Orange business.
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Ten staff at Spotlight Orange spent the past two-and-a-half months sewing 100 drawstring “busy bags” and filling them with boredom-busting activities for patients in the children’s ward at Orange hospital.
Spotlight team member Karen Dalton said she hoped the bags would help sick kids have a better time in hospital.
“They’re there for a long time, and by changing their day in just some little way, hopefully we can make it a little better by introducing different things,” Mrs Dalton said.
The bags are aimed at children up to mid-teens, with everything from colouring books, pens, pencils, playing cards, stickers and simple arts and crafts activities inside.
Mrs Dalton said the original target was to make 100 bags, but now Spotlight staff wanted to take the initiative further.
“We want to build on it and maybe get the community involved and donating items. Possibly even for other patients, not just kids stuff but emergency stuff for mothers and fathers who have to rush to hospital,” Mrs Dalton said.
She said people wanting to donate items to fill the bags, including child-friendly items and toiletries for adults, could bring them into the store and hand them to staff.
Sewers from the community are also welcome to make simple 50cm by 50cm over-the-shoulder drawstring bags by following their own pattern.
“We want to make it ongoing. We’ll continue making bags as long as there are items to fill them with,” Mrs Dalton said.
alexandra.king@fairfaxmedia.com.au
