CCL delivers boredom busting bags for winter blues

The Colby Community Library’s (CCL) annual holiday service project in 2021 was Boredom Buster Bags.

Community members were invited to bring new items to fill bags for children undergoing medical treatments in local hospitals.

In total, 405 bags were filled and delivered. Aspirus Hospital-Medford accepted 24 bags, as did Aspirus Hospital-Wausau. Delivered to Marshfield Medical Center were the remaining 357 bags.

Each bag was checked for age appropriateness, a feature highly appreciated by the hospital staffs. Many volunteer hours were spent preparing the bags for girls and boys ages 3-5, 6-8, and 9-11.

Favorable comments and photos have been arriving to the attention of the CCL. Many children and their families spend long hours awaiting procedures and results; Boredom Buster Bags help the time move more swiftly. Those receiving the bags have been very appreciative.

Over 60 individuals, families and businesses contributed items for the bags. Volunteer hours totaled 145.

Thrivent was also a sponsor of the project coordinated by CCL Director Vicky Calmes and library assistant Brittani Mertens.

Calmes said, “The response was overwhelming by the community. The plan to use up bags we had from other projects soon was scrapped, as more and more people signed up to sponsor numerous bags. We purchased many more to meet the response.

“When considering that each of the 405 bags had about 8-10 items in it, that means nearly 4,000 items were collected. As always, volunteers stepped up to help with the project. We truly live in a generous, caring community, and I pass along the appreciation from medical personnel to everyone who contributed.”