Builders Club tours Albany Med, learns first hand the importance of its "bells" fundraiser
 

(Feb. 15, 2012) Voorheesville Middle School's Builders Club toured the Albany Medical Center Children's hospital on Jan. 25 and Feb. 1. Students were led on a tour of the Neonatal Pediatric Intensive Care Unit by Rob Saba, senior development officer for leadership gifts at the Albany Medical Center Foundation, Inc., who has helped the Kiwanis set up their foundation at the hospital. The tour allowed students to understand the importance of their "Bells for Life" fundraiser.

"The Builders Club members experienced first hand the struggles of children with injuries and/or illnesses and their families," said Lisa Spadinger, club advisor. "They also learned about the importance of physical and emotional health."

Students met music therapists, pet therapists and child life specialists. When asked if they ever thought of a career within this realm, they replied they did not even know it was an option!

The students' entire experience: selling bells at the mall, at school and basketball games, discussions during club meetings and the hospital tours has brought them full circle and provided them with an eye-opening learning
experience to take with them the rest of their lives. Most importantly, it reinforces the importance of joining Builders Club as they are building individual character while working to improve their community.

The Builders club members were able to experience the Ronald McDonald room, kitchen and hotel rooms set up right in he middle of the children's hospital. The play room was beautiful with an air hockey table, talking tree and a beautiful aquarium. The kitchen was filled with family members of patients and the hotel rooms are a convenience for families to take a nap or a shower during long hospital stays with their sick children. Students from the middle school should be sending in can tabs to benefit Ronald McDonald House, a fundraiser ending in June for students to earn an ice cream social.

"Every little bit helps and the Members of Builders Club are becoming more aware of this and the difference they make through their efforts," Spadinger said.

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Read the Dec. 22, 2011 article, here.