| Published February 26th, 2014 | JM Students Learn About Giving and a Random Act of Kindness | Submitted by Heidi Hoehn-Felt | | From left, back row: Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School students Kellen Kvech, Elizabeth Oxendine, Rico Zuniga, Bradley Thompson, Mark Lindblad of Boy Scout Troop 234, JM school counselor Heidi Felt and Kevin Hughes, director of gift planning at Children's Hospital Oakland. Front row: Gilma Rivera, CHO Foundation receptionist, and JM student Olivia Rogers. Photo provided | In recognition of national Random Act of Kindness week Feb. 10-16, the Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School leadership class led by Tricia Reyes along with advisory teachers Kim Lockett and Mary Ann Shimer created a project JM students will never forget. After about a month of collecting new toys, signing get well cards, and wrapping gift bags, over 300 bags and toys were delivered Feb. 13 to Children's Hospital Oakland - just in time for Valentine's Day. Scoutmaster Wendell Baker's Moraga School District Boy Scout troops as well as 27 leadership students compiled the gift bags with heart ribbon and attached a get well card signed by a JM student to each one. "Timing was perfect," said Heidi Hoehn-Felt. "They had just run out of Valentine goodies at CHO." CHO Foundation receptionist Gilma Rivera said these gifts bring "joy and comfort to these ill children and help them cope (with their illness or pending surgery) and also helps their parents who are often a wreck emotionally but can't show it to their kids." She added, "When our kids are coping better, we cope better as parents."
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