SUBMITTED PHOTO — Pamela Wells with Iowa River Hospice visits Marshalltown Christian School first-grade students to receive their individually painted and decorated Christmas door hanger cards for hospice patients. Isaac Needham, Si Hser and Leo Johnson describe how they made their projects, while students Rosie Buhr and Kayde Overstake play with the Hospice House gnome who came with Wells.

Marshalltown Christian School students put their creativity to work and brought some Christmas cheer to Iowa River Hospice patients this year.

“This is the first time we have initiated this type of request,” said Pamela Wells, Iowa River Hospice volunteer coordinator and community liaison. “We thought it would be a wonderful collaboration for the holidays. I’m hoping that we can continue to work with them throughout the year.”

Seventeen first-grade students gave 40 patients cards or door hangers, using designs they created. Before the holiday arrived, the handmade gifts were delivered to the patients via chaplains, nurses, aides, social workers and volunteers.

“We talked about contacting a school during our last marketing meeting the week before Thanksgiving,” Wells said. “I placed a call to [Principal] Bethany Wirin at Marshalltown Christian School to ask if they would be interested and a week later they had completed the wreath hangers.”

She added that she is always amazed and thankful for the support from the community for the hospice.

“This wonderful gift from these children to our patients is just one example and what the season is all about,” Wells said. “I was at the school when they were finishing this project and the children were all so very proud and excited to hand over them to Iowa River Hospice.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.