09/27/19

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University student Holly Linenberger learned a lot about helping children during her high school days at Thomas More Prep-Marian in Hays, where she was a member of the Kiwanis-sponsored Key Club for four years.

Now, Linenberger – a sophomore from Munjor – has a personal tie to Kiwanis’ global mission of serving the needs of children. And she plans to do just that as a member of FHSU’s Circle K International, Kiwanis’ organization for college students.

She is spearheading a project for Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., where her younger sister, Sophia, has been undergoing treatments for a rare form of cancer the past eight months.

FHSU’s Circle K group is packing 40 boxes of goodies to hand out to children on the 38-bed cancer patients floor at Children’s Mercy.

Linenberger came up with the idea while visiting Sophia in the hospital last summer. She is grateful for what Children’s Mercy has done for her sister and decided to help other children dealing with cancer.

“One day, I watched as the children received some of the goodie bags, and they were so excited,” Linenberger said.

She decided to pack some of the items that she knew her sister found useful during her hospital stays.

Fellow CKI members are helping Linenberger fill the boxes with Jolly Ranchers, tissues, hand sanitizers, activity books and stress balls. Each box comes complete with a personal, handwritten note from a CKI member.

Linenberger plans to take the boxes to Children’s Mercy personally or send them with her mom, Jenny, on one of Sophia’s trips for treatment.

“Kiwanis is close to my heart, so I thought this would be a good way to give back,” Linenberger said. “Seeing those kids’ faces light up is the best feeling.”