Haidar collects 780-plus DVDs for Madison Hospital patients

Sarah Haidar, back center, collected 780 DVDs to-date for Madison Hospital patients. Haidar received support from hospital volunteer director Kelly Hatley, clockwise from left, Mayor Troy Trulock, hospital president Mary Lynne Wright and Girl Scout leader Gretchen Perry. (RECORD PHOTO/GREGG PARKER)

MADISON – To work for her Gold Award in Girl Scouts, Sarah Haidar chose to brighten patients’ stays at Madison Hospital.

The Bob Jones High School senior has established a media resource library with 780 DVDs to-date to entertain bedridden and long-term patients.

While searching for a service project, Haidar met Kelly Hatley at the 2012 Madison Street Festival. Hatley directs annual giving and volunteers at Madison Hospital.

Hatley mentioned that the hospital wanted DVDs and already owned DVD players. “I’ve always been interested in storytelling and helping our local hospital. This project was perfect,” Haidar said.

Volunteers will push the DVD cart to patients’ rooms for check in/out of movies.

“The whole community was involved,” Haidar said. To discuss her project, Haidar scheduled meetings with Girl Scout leaders and teachers at Bob Jones and James Clemens High School.

She emailed project advertisements to organizations, clubs and churches. School honor societies granted a service hour per donated DVD.

Even if Haidar doesn’t earn the Gold Award, she would help the hospital again. “Madison Hospital and its patients deserve it,” she said. “I’ve learned valuable skills from this project that I will carry on with me.”

Girl Scout leaders Gretchen Perry and Laura Plume and girls in Troops 737 and 35 assisted Haidar. Huntsville Islamic Center, St. John the Baptist Catholic, Asbury United Methodist and Messiah Lutheran churches also helped.

Hospital president Mary Lynne Wright, Mayor Troy Trulock and Kim Lindsey supported the project, along with Morningside of Madison, Madison Public Library and Bob Jones and James Clemens clubs.

Sarah’s parents are Tarek and Roudayna Haidar. He works as a value stream manager at Federal Mogul in Athens. Born in Brownsville, Texas, Sarah moved to Madison when she was five.

Haidar’s artwork was featured at Panoply. She has served as French Honor Society president, French Club historian and with Barnes & Noble Youth Advisory Board.

Haidar plans to attend Auburn University and major in industrial design. To donate movies (PG-13 or below), email to kelly.hatley@hhsys.org.