MeKinley Elrod, a 2015 Youth Power and Hope Awards winner, poses with the toys that were collected at her recent toy carnival. She donates all of the collected toys to Kosair Children’s Hospital.

MeKinley Elrod, the daughter of REMC members Danielle Barley and Jeremy Elrod, was one of Indiana Electric Cooperatives’ 2015 Youth Power and Hope Awards winners.

MeKinley was recognized for collecting toys and raising money for Kosair Children’s Hospital. In 2015, she came up with the idea of having a carnival to raise money for toys to give to hospitalized children. This became “Kinley’s Helping Hands Toy Drive Carnival.” The carnival included face painting and games and collected more than 100 toys.

This past June, she had another toy drive carnival and car show.  During this event, she collected toys and also raised $3,950. In addition to collecting toys, MeKinley’s other goal is to raise enough money to have a playroom named after her at Kosair Children’s Hospital.

In June, MeKinley also received the first Community Service award given by Pygkids. This group promotes family and is involved with the Velcro Pygmies. MeKinley had a blast singing “Livin’ on a Prayer” with the group at the event.

Kinley will be in seventh grade this year at Corydon Intermediate School where her favorite subjects are math and language arts. When asked why she does all of this, she said, “Because I know what it feels like to be in the hospital. You want to go home, and a toy just makes things better.”

Thank you, MeKinley, for what you do to make a difference.

During the month of August, Harrison REMC will be collecting new toys for Kinley’s Helping Hands. Toys are needed for all ages; patients range in age from newborns to teenagers. Please see the list below for some ideas.

CONSIDER DONATING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: card games, action figures, new books, hand-held electronic games, puzzles, wooden puzzles with knobs, toy medical kits, stuffed animals, basketballs, rattles, chew toys