Youth Group donates to Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Serenity House

eekers ‘n Sneakers, the Central Reform Church Youth Group

MAHASKA COUNTY – Seekers ‘n Sneakers, the Central Reform Church Youth Group consisting of kids grade K-6, recently made a donation of toys and games to the Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Serenity House.

According to Central Reform Church Director of Children’s Ministry Melissa Van Donselaar, the donation was made in memory of T.J. Goemaat. T. J. was an active member of the youth group who passed away at the Hospice Serenity House in April of this year at 10 years of age. His bravery and strong faith remains an inspiration to all who knew him.

“The basket full of donations has a lot of meaning for us,” Van Donselaar said. “T.J.’s family spent a lot of time here at the Serenity House so we wanted more items for the play room. His favorite game was UNO, which we included in the donations, and the basket is lime green, which was T.J.’s favorite color. We also included a bag of Three Musketeers candy bars for the staff because that was T.J.’s favorite candy and the staff was so awesome to him and his entire family.”

Shown with the donations are, from left: MHP Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Lisa McNulty, MHP Chief Operating Officer Erin Baldwin, youth group members Lauren Coon, Mikayla McQueen, Grace Ver Steegh, Emma Baumgardner and Nick Coon, and Central Reform Church Director of Children’s Ministry Melissa Van Donselaar.

Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, call 641-672-3240 or visit www.mahaskahealth.org.