Seeds of Hope

Nonprofit Gives Students Opportunities to Volunteer, Learn About Medical Field

Giving+A+Ray+of+Hope+is+a+newly+founded+organization+that+strives+to+help+children+in+hospitals%2C+and+are+responsible+for%2C+not+only+participating+in+service+projects%2C+but+also+educating+the+community+on+diseases+that+infect+children.+The+organization+provides+many+opportunities+for+members+to+explore+the+medical+field+and+contribute+to+their+community.+%E2%80%9CI+would+say+that+this+organization+really+helps+you+have+that+role+in+your+community+and+trying+to+help+others%2C%E2%80%9D+junior+member+Jillian+Lach+said.+%E2%80%9CNot+only+does+it+help+build+responsibility%2C+but+it+%5Bhas+also%5D+helped+me+meet+new+people+and+research+and+educate+myself+on+a+lot+of+things+that+I+didn%E2%80%99t+know+about+before.

photo courtesy of Giving A Ray of Hope

Giving A Ray of Hope is a newly founded organization that strives to help children in hospitals, and are responsible for, not only participating in service projects, but also educating the community on diseases that infect children. The organization provides many opportunities for members to explore the medical field and contribute to their community. “I would say that this organization really helps you have that role in your community and trying to help others,” junior member Jillian Lach said. “Not only does it help build responsibility, but it [has also] helped me meet new people and research and educate myself on a lot of things that I didn’t know about before.”

Ruchi Sankolli, Reporter

Dedicating their time to educating others on health drawbacks while putting a smile on children’s faces, Giving A Ray Of Hope is a nonprofit organization whose goal is help spread awareness about children’s diseases and help children’s hospitals through donations. 

The organization strives to help the community and the medical community. Their main objective is to help kids who are struggling in hospitals. The organization recently started this year in June by a group of students at Round Rock High School. 

As mentioned by Lach, the organization consists of various teams, each tasked with contributing to a specific aspect of the organization: Graphic design, Writing and Research, Fundraising, Sponsor and Outreach/Marketing

Giving A Ray of Hope, as part of their mission statement aims to “aid children in hospitals by providing a source of comfort when facing a serious illness. We hope to aid children in hospitals by bringing a source of joy, hope, and spirit during the times when a child is facing an illness” 

Their goal is to raise $5,000 in order to help hospitalized children in the community. 

“I mainly joined because I liked their mission that aimed to help kids in hospitals,” junior member Aashna Ravi said. “I’ve always seen myself working in a hospital setting and also enjoy working with kids. With Giving A Ray of Hope, when we’re back in person, I hope to get some experience working with children in the hospital, and also just kind of seeing how a hospital works.” 

Ravi also wants to use her experience as a member of Giving A Ray Of Hope to help others on her own. In addition, she wants to spread more awareness regarding medical issues as well. 

“I hope to get more involved with medical clinics and patients once in person activities begin,” Ravi said. “In addition, I think it is also just a good way to help educate the community on different conditions that children face.”

Giving A Ray of Hope strives to not only provide help to others but to also educate people on medical complications. They also help build on good skills, according to Lach, who expresses pride in her involvement with the organization. 

“I would say that this organization really helps you have that role in your community and trying to help others,” Lach said. “Not only does it help build responsibility, but it [has also] helped me meet new people and research and educate myself on a lot of things that I didn’t know about before. I have gotten the opportunity to contribute with service projects, gain volunteer hours, and especially learn more about the kids who are suffering and how we can make a difference to help them. Being a member makes me feel proud that I have this role in my community and that I am helping others, even if it’s in a small way.” 

The organization has begun a new project, in which they will be creating winter and Christmas themed coloring books for hospitalized children. This project requires students to submit simple coloring book designs to use in their coloring books. More information can be found here 

Currently, the organization is also looking for new members. Students who are interested can fill out this form. More information can be found about Giving A Ray of Hope can be found here.