Madison Kid Care Club helps hospitality house

By By Lana Barshinger Special to the Record
The Madison Kids Care Club recently received a $200 donation from Kohl’s in support of its project to help Huntsville’s Blount Hospitality House. In turn, the club donated a DVD player and five kid’s DVDs for use at the house.
The Blount Hospitality House provides no cost lodging and support for families that have a critically ill family member hospitalized locally.
The project was part of Kohl’s Day of Caring on National Join Hands Day June 21. Kohl’s partnered with Kids Care Clubs and the Points of Light Foundation to create Day of Caring events across the country.
Join Hands Day is a national event that unites young people and adults to support charities that work year round to meet the needs of local youth.
More than 50,000 Kohl’s associates from stores nationwide are encouraged to volunteer their time and efforts for various nonprofit charitable organizations. Kohl’s associates at the Madison store support children in the community through various projects during the year.
The Blount Hospitality House is located at 610 Madison St. in Huntsville. It provides lodging and supportive companionship in a home-like environment for out-of-town relatives of critically ill hospital patients. For families facing a medical emergency or critical care of a loved one far from home, the house can help ease worry and anxiety.
The house can accommodate 24-26 people nightly.
Open since 1980, the facility has provided 75,514 total accommodations at no charge to guests. Guests stay from a couple of days to several months. Social workers and head nurses make guest referrals.
The house is supported entirely by funds provided by churches, clubs, businesses and individuals, including houseguests. Donations are always welcome.
The DVD player was selected as a gift to provide relaxation, entertainment, and to distract its guests from the stress associated with critical illness. The house has a living room area where guests can gather and watch television.
With the thought that young guests are often need distraction during these situations, the Kids Care Club decided the DVD player and DVDs would be an appropriate donation.
There are hundreds of Kids Care Clubs around the world with a simple and focused mission: To develop the spirit of compassion and volunteerism in children.
To this end, these clubs provide children, families, schools and religious groups with opportunities to help others. The concept is referred to as “hands on love.”
The Madison Kids Care Club provides the opportunity for elementary-age children and their parents to make a difference in the community.
Madison Kids Club welcomes new members. For more information, contact Lana Barshinger at 325-2008 or learnservelady@knology.net.