Girl Scout assembles hope bags for Tunnell Cancer Center patients

Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center received 24 hope bags July 23 from local 14-year-old Girl Scout Cadette Mickayla Austin. The hope bags were a project for Mickayla’s Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. 

“I chose to make hope bags for Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center because many of my family members have had cancer, so this is something close to my heart,” Mickayla said. “I would like to put a smile on someone’s face to let them know to never lose hope.” 

Mickayla made 24 bags, 12 for women and 12 for men. Her project included hand-stamped designs on the bags, handwritten cards with inspirational quotes, and an introduction of herself and her project. The bags also include a selection of items to help the patients feel comfortable at their cancer appointments, such as hand lotions, crackers, hard candies, word search book and socks. 

Mickayla has been working with Girl Scout troops 858/958, run by Girl Scout troop leader Tanya Sykes, to earn her Leadership in Action Award. Mickayla called upon these troops to help fill the hope bags, which is one of the requirements of the Silver Award Project.

“We are so grateful for Mickayla’s hard work on her donated hope bags and the fact she chose Tunnell Cancer Center as the focus on her Silver Award project; Mickayla is a wonderful role model to other youth in our community. Our patients truly appreciate these personal touches and knowing others in the community care,” said Lisa Henderson, RN, OCN, oncology nursing manager at Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnell Cancer Center.

For more information about assembling new hope bags or donating items, contact Carol Hunt, oncology service line coordinator at Tunnell Cancer Center, at 302-645-3171.