By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Wonder Women League is looking forward to several projects that will help children.

The nonprofit, which is affiliated with United Way of Ellis County, had a member drive luncheon Tuesday.

The Wonder Women League hopes to partner with HaysMed to buy stainless steel wagons and/or remote controlled cars for children who are patients at the hospital, Rhonda Meyerhoff, League co-chair, told the group.

“Mom or dad can take the child for a ride, and it is another way of transport,” she said.

The remote-controlled cars, can be a way a child can ride to surgery.

“I didn’t really think about it, but the impact on a child who is really, really scared …,” Meyerhoff said. “They want to cling to mom or to dad because they don’t know what is going to happen. They are scared. What we are told is if they can get the child into one of these motorized vehicles and into surgery, they have accomplished a lot with this child because the child is not going to fight them now.”

HaysMed has approved the project, and it will be up for a vote in front of the Wonder Women in October. The group meets every other month on the second Thursday of the month for about an hour.

The group is trying to organize a cyber security program that could be presented to children in schools, the group also hopes to discuss this project at its next meeting.

The group also hopes to partner with the Fort Hays State University veterans organization to assist in its annual sports equipment drive. That could happen as soon as this fall.

“We know there may be children whose parents can’t afford the athletic equipment that they need to even do Hays Rec or some other team,” Meyerhoff said. “I don’t know about you, but it seemed every year I was having to buy new sizes of shoes for my kids for what they were going through because they had grown that much and the old pair just kind of got dumped.”

New equipment can be donated, but gently used equipment like basketballs, footballs, soccer balls or baseballs could also be donated.

The group has also discussed a long-term goal of creating a woman’s scholarship fund.

The League continues to participate in Matthew’s Gift in cooperation with HaysMed. The project provides bags with necessities, such as toiletries, bottled water, a lap blanket and snacks, to families who have loved ones who have to be transferred out of Hays on an emergency basis. The project was named for 3-year-old Matthew Wellbrock, who died as a result of an accident on his family’s farm.

Nancy Jeter, League c0-chair, said Matthew’s father and mother received a similar bag when Matthew was in the hospital. Matthew’s father told Jeter the bag was invaluable to the couple, because neither one of them wanted to leave Matthew’s side when he was in the hospital. They lived out of that bag until Matthew passed away.

Tammy Williams, HaysMed emergency department nurse, said the families who have received the bags have been very grateful. About three dozen bags have been distributed since the program began in the spring.

Meyerhoff said, “In my heart, when we give them that bag, I think we give them some love from Ellis County to go with them.”

Other projects Wonder Women have supported since the group launched two years ago included a self-defense class and Sunrise Park’s Born Learning Trail, which is a walking trail that includes interactive learning activities for children.

Prior to the event Tuesday, the group had about 35 members.

The group has changed its membership structure. The minimum contribution to become a member is $50. You can pay using check, cash or credit card. You can register online using a credit card.

You can volunteer for events or be on committees, but the League also offers a donor only option.

Registration is good for one year, and the money raised goes to support Wonder Women League projects. The group also accepts contributions from corporate sponsors. Although the League is under the United Way’s nonprofit umbrella, the funds raised through this organization are kept separate for League projects.

The exception is the annual Power of the Purse event, which jointly supports the League and United Way.