For the last 13 years, the Heritage Middle School National Junior Honor Society has donated various items to make gift bags for the University Medical Center (UMC) patients. The group makes bags for patients as young as two years old and others well into adulthood.  

The bags for the younger patients each had coloring books, crayons, a book, a stuffed animal, and a toy. The bags for the older patients had more games, activities, and card games and each adult bag included card games, adult coloring books, colored pencils, and a puzzle activity book. In the end, Heritage NJHS was able to donate 43 patient bags for UMC.  

The NJHS at Heritage donates these goodie bags to UMC because they are partners during the Children's Miracle Network Miracle Pennies fundraiser. This year during the Miracle Pennies fundraiser Heritage raised over 3,000 dollars for UMC.  

The students enjoyed visiting the hospital and delivering the bags. They also were able to talk with a Child Life Specialist and learn how UMC makes a hospital stay for kids as accommodating as possible and all the care they show the patients, including their service dog, Sable, who helps patients. 

This gift bag donation is the last service project of the year for the NJHS. Throughout the year, the NJHS completed various service projects. The students involved are an embodiment of the Frenship Way, which utilizes the SERVE model. SERVE stands for Smile, Engage. Respect, Volunteer, and Encourage. The Frenship Way is a characterization of the culture found throughout Frenship ISD.  

Kim Thomas, one of the NJHS Advisors at Heritage, stated that organizations like NJHS are beneficial for students who have a heart for service.  

“The National Junior Honor Society is a great organization to not only recognize student's academic achievements but to involve students in service opportunities throughout the community,” said Thomas. “We are helping to cultivate our leaders through scholarship, service, citizenship, and character.”