For the past six years, Charleston residents Ava Gardner and her mother, Michelle Gardner, have assembled and donated “Hope Bags” to Sarah Bush Lincoln (SBL) and other hospitals. Working with members of the Mattoon Academy of Gymnastics and local community members, they collected items to fill the bags for children receiving care.
This year’s donation was directed to SBL’s Emergency Department as well as its Women and Children’s, radiology, and pathology units. The Hope Bags contain new coloring books, crayons, and a variety of toys.
The effort is part of “The Elle Project,” which the Gardners started in 2016 to honor Elle Sean Kearns. The project began with a donation of toys and books to a hospital in Carbondale before Christmas. Since then, it has expanded to include donations to 15 hospitals. Over the years, more than 650 Hope Bags have been given to Sarah Bush Lincoln through this initiative. Collection points for donations included the Mattoon Academy of Gymnastics and Edward Jones office in Charleston, with contributions coming from residents of Mattoon, Charleston, and Paris.
Amy Card, director of the SBL Foundation, expressed gratitude for the ongoing support: “Once again, we want to thank Ava and Michelle and all who contributed items for these wonderful Hope Bags,” Card said. “Being in the hospital, coming to the Emergency Room or having tests done can be scary, especially for children. These bags are definitely a welcome surprise for them.”
