Students at the Shelby County College and Career Center will be providing custom-designed Radio Flyer wagons to patients at Children’s Hospital as part of a community service Impact Project that grew from the annual Shelby County Student Leadership Conference.

The students involved in the project are primarily members of the school’s Beta Club and Student Government Association who had the opportunity to attend the student conference last year.  Senior Ashton Ayers, who spent time at Children’s Hospital after suffering a severe head injury her freshman year, suggested they focus their project on doing something to help the hospital.  Originally, the students thought about doing stuffed animals at Build-A-Bear to donate to the patients but switched to the Radio Flyer wagons after consulting with Children’s Hospital officials.

The students raised the money for the wagons and partnered with Brown Lumber Company to purchase the wagons at a greatly reduced rate.

“The wagons normally cost $145 each, but Brown Lumber ordered six wagons below cost for $90 and then donated two more,” said SGA sponsor Kim Estill.  “We are getting eight wagons for $600.”

The SGA students are also partnering with Collison Repair Technology students and instructor Mark McCary to paint each wagon with colors that match various themes.  The themes include “Disney Princesses”, “Finding Nemo”, “Frozen”, “Cars”, “Disney Characters” “Doc McStuffins”and “Super Heroes.” Estill said once the wagons are painted and customized with their themes, they will be delivered to Children’s Hospital on May 13.