Sunnyside fifth-graders donate to Sletten Cancer Center

Press release

Every year at Sunnyside Intermediate School the fifth graders experience first-hand the world of trade.

They participate in a Trade Fair with their classmates. Teams are chosen to work together and come up with an items, or items, that will be sold to their peers and the community. Christmas items, jewelry and food are some of the choices offered.

The students then participate in a lesson in philanthropy by choosing a cause to donate their proceeds to. This year the students selected the "Serving of Hope" fund managed by the Northern Montana Health Care Foundation and the Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center.

The "Serving of Hope" fund was started in 2009 from the proceeds from the "Men Who Cook for Women Who Wine" event. The fund helps people who need to travel for serious medical conditions. It helps to pay for travel and lodging expenses. The students at Sunnyside donated $100 to this fund.

The students also designed baskets for the patients at the Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center. The baskets contained socks, tissues, treats and other items and were put together by the students using their proceeds to purchase the contents. They intend the basket items to offer comfort to the patients while they fight against cancer.

The students were able to present these baskets, along with the donation to the Serving of Hope fund, to Dr. Mohammed Kanaan of the cancer center Friday. Kanaan is the hematology/oncology provider at the center and paid a visit to Sunnyside to accept the donations. Sarah Spangler, RN, also was present. Spangler is the manager of nursing at the cancer center and has a child at Sunnyside.

Prior to presenting Kanaan with the gifts, the students heard from Lesley Gardner, a teacher at Sunnyside, about her family's experience with cancer. She then introduced Kanaan to the students. After thanking the students for their generosity, he spent several minutes answering the student's questions about cancer.

"It is so wonderful to see the children learning about helping others in this manner," Kanaan said. "Too often children are not exposed to this type of effort and are never able to learn and appreciate how good helping others can feel. Our patients will certainly appreciate these gifts."

Information about the Serving of Hope fund can be found at https://nmhcare.org/. Donations to either the Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center or the Serving of Hope fund can be sent to the Northern Montana Health Care Foundation, PO Box 1231, Havre, MT 59501.