Student-Led Pajama Drive Brings Warm Gifts to Hospital Patients

The sound of lilting voices could be heard through the halls of the Children's Subacute Services at the Community Hospital of San Bernardino on Dec. 16. It was a special day for patients at the medical center and a particularly cheerful one because they also received gifts. Fifteen students from Washington High School's (WHS) Success by Choice program delivered 40 pairs of pajamas and 15 blankets and pairs of socks to child patients at the center that day — an idea sparked by Success by Choice members themselves. Patients staying at the Subacute Services at the hospital range in age from newborn to 21 years old and live with long-term, clinically complex neurological conditions that require machines to assist them with eating or breathing. "This is a powerful interventive trip that I take our students on," said Success by Choice Director Nina Torres, a career guidance counselor at WHS. "Not only does it remind us how valuable our own health and our lives are but it also reminds us that no matter how hard our struggles in life, there is always someone who has it harder and if these children can do it, so can we. This visit changes the lives of the people who visit these children." Success by Choice student Mark Contreras was one of the students whose life was affected by a previous visit to the center; he was so impacted that this year, he wanted to do more for the patients. He helped spark to life the idea for the pajama drive with the help of co-organizer, Success by Choice member Elizabeth Belloso. "I wanted to do something for the kids," he said. "And they can't play with toys because they are paralyzed." He originally wanted to head a toy drive but when the students were told the patients were in need of pajamas and other items, the pajama drive kicked off — and fast. "This became a community affair," said Torres. With the help of Colton Prevention Specialist Mirza Andrade-Martinez, Colton City Clerk Eileen Gomez, WHS Attendance Clerk Moniqua Aguilar and other WHS staff, donations of pajamas and socks were collected. Warm fleece blankets were handmade and donated by the Kiwanis Club of Cooley Ranch. The group spent the day visiting patients and delivering the gifts of pajamas, socks and hand-made blankets. Contreras explained he would like to continue the drive in years to come.