RUSSELLVILLE, Mo. - The month of December ordinarily is a festive time of year, especially for children.
But many will spend Christmas at the St. Louis Children's Hospital, not only away from home but with health concerns.
One of those children is Maelynne Cartee. Her second-grade classmates at Russellville Elementary School and her teacher Sarah Kennedy have been collecting new stuffed animals to share with all of the patients, because Maelynne's favorite toys are stuffed animals.
"I can't help but think of Maelynne sitting in the hospital, spending Christmas away from home," Kennedy said. "If these children can bring a smile to those children's faces, what a blessing."
After Maelynne's aunt Mandy Cartee visited with the class earlier this fall, they began collecting soda tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, which has been a blessing to Maelynne's family.
"I wanted to find out something for us to do during the Christmas season to help others," Kennedy said of the toy collection.
Maelynne suffered a head injury after being trampled by a cow in October, and Kennedy said having a classmate at the hospital has raised the awareness "not everyone enjoys the same blessings we do."
The day she mentioned to her class that Maelynne would spend Christmas in the hospital, Kennedy said the students' faces showed their concern and shock.
"They have such generous hearts," she said.
The class also was instrumental in the Miracles for Maelynne downtown fundraiser a few months ago, which raised significant funds to offset the family's traveling expenses.
Third-graders are helping with the stuffed animal collection and middle school students are collecting comfort supplies, which will be used by families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.
A lady in the Russellville community heard about the second-graders' collection and donated her substantial Beanie Baby collection for the children at the hospital.
Student Reese Miller attended a military event with his brother recently, where each child received a stuffed animal. At the end of the event, the announcer said they were going to donate the remaining toys to a not-for-profit.
Miller quickly responded and gathered up more stuffed animals, resulting in the organization donating the remainder to him for the class collection.
The collection will continue through Dec. 19. Then teachers, administration and staff will deliver the toys and visit Maelynne before Christmas Eve.
"I'm anxious to see her again," Kennedy said. "I've not been there since she's been awake."