Falls Church Academy Delivers Stockings To INOVA Children's Hospital

From Falls Church Academy: On December 9th, over 70 stockings will be taken over to INOVA Children’s hospital thanks to the students in the Falls Church High School Academy Class (Medical Assistant class—part of the Governor’s Health Science program at Falls Church High School). Students worked on their own time and put together their own resources to gather gifts and items to put in the stockings. Only one class day was used and that was to actually stuff the stockings together. When asked what made them want to do this, one student—Maryam Mahdi—commented, “Kids there aren't able to leave the hospital so we thought we could make their time there better, bring the joy to them”.

There are three Medical Assistant classes at the FCHS Academy. Each class was given an option of a group at the hospital to support (the teeanagers, the elementary school-aged, or the infants/toddlers). When talking with the class that chose the teenagers, Nuran El-Aleah commented, “We chose the high schoolers, the teenage group, because we felt like we could relate to them and thought about what we would want if we were in there ourselves". They took the time to contemplate what it may be like to be in their shoes and what they think would bring a smile at a time when so many are gathered with families in a home, yet they have to be in a hospital.

"We're hoping we can bring them some happiness, especially knowing that it's strangers that still care about them. It's worth taking the time to do it and bring them some positive news. That’s part of the reason we chose to also include books that have inspirational quotes and support, let's deliver them some positive news", said student Cindy Ochoa.

This is the fifth year the Medical Assistant classes have been bringing stockings to the children at INOVA Fairfax.

Photos courtesy of Falls Church Academy