Builders Club Success

​By: Mackenzie McCollum, Contributing Writer

On December 15th, members of the Chester Boren Middle School(CBMS)  Builders Club held an art supply donation drive for the Children’s Miracle Network at Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Columbia. 

Builders Club is an extension of Kiwanis Club for younger students in middle school. The mission of Builders Club is to help serve their community in various ways.

This is the seventh year Builders Club has participated in the collection process. Builders Club and Kiwanis Club combined, collected over 2000 items in donations this year. The donations included: crayons, coloring books, play-dough, markers and other art supplies. 

Rather than collecting items like toys or stuffed animals, Builders Club believes art supplies are the most beneficial items for the patients. Mrs. Alicia Hancock, eighth grade language arts teacher and Builders Club sponsor at CBMS, explains why they only collect art supplies more in depth. “Art supplies cannot be shared between patients because of cross-contamination issues, and patients benefit from the art supplies in many different ways.  Sometimes they can be used for therapy, rewards/incentives when patients have to go through procedures and simply entertainment when patients are at the hospital for extended periods of time,” said Hancock.

Hancock thought art supplies would be an easy option for middle school students to donate. “Most art supplies are at an affordable price point for middle school students and their families to donate if they want to do so,” said Hancock.  

One student who brought in supplies was eighth grade student Cassidy Collier, President of Builders Club. Collier joined Builders Club because she wanted to be more involved in helping people and enjoys hands-on activities. Collier helped spread the word about the collection by making posters and hanging them in the middle school. 

Builders Club is currently brainstorming what their spring service project will be. They have a few ideas, but have not confirmed what they want to do.