“Bags of Smilles” Presented to Hospital

Nadia Gonzales, member of Girl Scout Troop 4199, presented Uvalde Memorial Hospital nursing directors with over 300 “Bags of Smiles” this week to give to children who are hospitalized. Nadia created the goodie bags as a part of her Girl Scout’s Silver Award project. Nadia posted her idea for the project on Facebook and in response received an outpouring of donations for the bags. Family and friends from across Texas and into Louisiana sent monetary donations and supplies totaling nearly $600. Nadia then dedicated more than 50 hours of her time to put the bags together including a personal note, a coloring book, and crayons in each. The bags will be dispersed to pediatric patients seen in the emergency room, operating room, and medical/surgical unit. 

Pictured left to right: Julia Rodriguez, RN, Emergency Room director; Nadia Gonzales; Alison Peppler, RN, Med/Surg Director; Ann Martinez, RN, Surgery Director; Adam Apolinar, Chief Nursing Office