Volunteers needed for STAR program at Akron Children’s Hospital in Boardman
The leadership staff at Akron Children’s Hospital in Mahoning Valley successfully opened a new emergency room on its Beeghly campus in Boardman earlier this year.
With the help of the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Northeast Ohio (RMHC® NEO), they’re continuing to grow, finding innovative ways to treat patients and families.
STAR Corner
In the waiting room of the emergency department, there’s a new program being implemented called STAR Corner, part of the Ronald McDonald Charities group.
The STAR (Support, Teaching, Awareness and Resources) program room creates a learning environment for children ages 3-6 while their siblings receive emergency treatment.
It’s a resource for parents coming to the emergency room at Akron Children’s Hospital with multiple children, explained Craig Wilson, chief executive officer of RMHC NEO.
“When you have a child that gets injured, and you have to run to the emergency department, you don’t have time to get a babysitter. It’s a challenge for the parent, because they have to try to make sure the other siblings are taken care of, in addition to trying to pay attention to what doctors and nurses are saying about their child and trying to get the best treatment for them,” said Wilson. “So mom or dad can take the child that needs the treatment off into the emergency room and really focus on their care, and then we will take care of the kids for them.”
Volunteer opportunities
While waiting for their siblings, kids in the STAR corner can focus on educational activities and crafts.
“One of the activities could be brushing your teeth, and teaching the proper way to do it,” said Wilson. “We have a little tooth timer that we give the kids that we’ll turn over and once the sand goes through, then they know they’re done brushing their teeth. We have giveaways and information we’ll send home in a kit that they can then share with the rest of the family, so it’s not just them learning about it, but the rest of the family can learn as well. We’re trying to help the family as much as possible, not just the child, but all of the members of the family with the information.”
STAR Corner’s hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2—7 p.m., with plans to expand to five days per week.
According to Wilson, volunteer opportunities with STAR Corner can be found on the Ronald McDonald House Charities NEO website under the ‘Get Involved’ tab.
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