Valley Creek Elementary, Children’s Medical Center Legacy and Target have partnered to create a unique learning experience and philanthropic effort for students. The second annual CougarsCARE event will focus on the “Power of Play” in the healing process of children seeking medical treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses. Valley Creek students will be collecting and donating toys for children seeking treatment at Children’s Medical Center Legacy. CMC Legacy is a new facility, and the current economy is taking its toll on the hospital’s collection of toys, books and games. Last year’s CougarsCARE food drive was a record-setting event for the Community Food Pantry. Valley Creek students continue making a positive impact on their community through this year’s service project.

            November 6 is the kick-off for the CougarsCARE “Power of Play” All School Toy Drive. A representative from Children’s Medical Center will greet students and illustrate the “Power of Play” in a child’s healing process. Teachers will then present students with medical bracelets. Each bracelet will feature the name of a child currently seeking treatment at the hospital. Valley Creek student names will be partnered with patient names on the bracelets, exemplifying the direct impact they can have on a child’s life.

            The CougarsCARE toy drive will last from November 6 through November 19. On November 19, a school –wide assembly will be held to announce the classes that collected the most toys in each grade level. Coveted CougarsCARE trophies will be awarded to the winning classes.

            Valley Creek student council members will be working throughout the toy drive to create a documentary of the “Power of Play” event. The focus of this documentary will be to explore what need looks like and what it looks like to help a fellow child. This documentary will be presented to CMC Legacy staff upon completion.

            Four area Target stores have joined the cause by making charitable donations on behalf of CougarsCARE. Staff members will also be prepared to assist shoppers in finding items for the “Power of Play” Toy Drive.

If you are interested in supporting this cause, please deliver new toys in original packaging to Valley Creek Elementary. Students and community members are also encouraged to donate new or used Xbox 360, Game Boy, Wii, Nintendo Game Cube or Nintendo DS games to help build the game library at CMC Legacy. CougarsCARE representatives will be available before school to collect community donations.

The Valley Creek motto is “to develop and inspire minds that think and hearts that care”. It is a priority at Valley Creek to give students hands on experiences such as this to encourage each to become empowered in the face of need. This message and these experiences will go with them forever. This is the reason for CougarsCARE.