Students in the Misericordia University Chapter of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association donated more than 100 comfort blankets to children in Ecuador. From left, are Kelsey Davis, of Clarks Summit, secretary; Maggie Constable, of Lewisburg, president; Mrs. Susan Collini, Dr. Francis J. Collini, MD; and Katie Lawlor, of Hillsdale, N.J., vice president, recently delivered the blankets to Dr. Collini’s Shavertown office.
The Misericordia University Chapter of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) made more than 100 comfort blankets for Dr. Francis J. Collini, M.D., to present to Ecuadorian children when he returns to the South American country in June.
Through Community Cares for Kids, Dr. Collini and a team of surgeons have been providing corrective surgery since 1997 for children in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The volunteer organization is based in Shavertown and has reached out to help needy children, particularly those born with birth defects or suffering from deforming injuries, like cleft lip and palate.
Community Cares for Kids was founded by volunteers and businesses to help needy children in developing countries. Every summer, a team of doctors and nurses provides the necessary medical services and supplies to about 100 children who otherwise would not receive proper care.
During the June 5-12 visit, Dr. Collini and his wife, Susan, will also present children with comforting blankets that were made by Misericordia University Speech-Language Pathology majors, as well as two area senior knitting clubs.
The blankets come in many different styles, sizes and colors. Some were crocheted while others were knitted or assembled using fleece.
The knitters also sewed a special message — “Sonrisas reconstruidas, caritas felices, esperanza cumplida” – onto the blankets, which means “reconstructive smiles, happy faces and hope fulfilled” and a Misericordia University tag.