Have you escaped the H1N1 swine flu this year?  If so, there's something to be thankful for.  Perhaps you have recovered after a bout with an illness, return of good health is another thing to be thankful for.  Did you wake up this morning breathing?  There's nothing too small to be thankful for.

If you are thankful for your health and looking for a way to show your gratitude, consider making a Jared Box with your homeschool students.

Who is Jared, and what is a Jared Box?  Jared was a little boy who battled childhood cancer.  His fight on this earth ended on November 12, 2000.  The Jared Box website explains that:

"Jared maintained his sense of humor and the joys of childhood through play. He carried a backpack full of toys and games to all appointments, and questioned why the other children didn't bring toys to their exam rooms."

If you've ever spent any amount of time with a sick child waiting to be seen by a doctor, you know that the time can drag on.  It's a stressful time for both parent and child.  Anything to take your mind off of the crisis at hand by diverting your attention to something more enjoyable is welcome.  A Jared Box does just that.

You, and your homeschool group - or just your own family - can put together a Jared Box and deliver it to a hospital.  It's a great project during Thanksgiving and Christmas time.  As you put together the boxes, talk about how thankful you are for health and for people who have cared for you when you have been sick in the past.

Here's instructions on how to make a Jared Box.  A Jared Box is simply a clear plastic box with a lid, like a shoebox filled with toys and crayons and such - Anything a child might enjoy.  You deliver them to a local hospital who then distributes them to sick children - Critically ill children, children coming out of surgery for any number of conditions or children who are spending time in the Emergency Room.

A quick glance at the list of Jared Box hospitals will reveal that no St. Louis area hospitals are on the list.  So, if you're not wanting to drive to the other Missouri or Illinois hospitals listed, you might want to call a hospital near you, or even an urgent care or pediatrician's office closest to you and ask if they would like to receive Jared Boxes before you begin.

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