Emmaus High School’s Interact Club permits students to connect with the community through student generated outreach projects. This year the approximately 100 club members will donate over 700 hours to service projects. According to club adviser Amy Kaunitz, “They (the students) always seem to do more than what I ask.”

Kaunitz, an EHS social studies teacher, has sponsored the club for five years, and as stated by club member Lorelei Kilka, “If you have an idea, Mrs. Kaunitz will help you ... make it come true.”

This spring Kilka and her sister Peyton Kilka, both EHS students, presented Kaunitz with their Operation Giggles concept. Both girls had experienced hospitalizations made less stressful when an unexpected toy was provided by an anonymous source. A Barbie doll wearing a leg cast lightened Lorelei’s mood after she broke her leg and a plush toy eased the sting of the removal of an embedded pencil point from Peyton’s foot.

The memories of the comfort they derived from these gifts inspired the Kilka sisters to bring Operation Giggles to fruition. With the support of Kaunitz and their mother, who helped create the project’s logo and T-shirts, they developed a toy drive to benefit patients in Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital.

Flyers explaining the why, when and where of the drive were created and distributed. Then, for approximately two weeks, high school students brought new toys to the girls’ drop off station during lunches or to Kaunitz’s classroom.

Initially, donations came in slowly. Then, as Lorelei explains, “It happened all of a sudden. It was awesome.” Toys, crafts and games poured in.

By coordinating their efforts with Kate Booth, Lehigh Valley Health Network executive director, individual giving, the Kilkas succeeded in delivering the donations.

To quote Aesop, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” The gifts given to the Kilkas during their time in the hospital provided the impetus for Operation Giggles. The children receiving the collected toys are receiving gifts born of kindness. Most certainly, this kindness will not be wasted.