PCE News
Engineering students help build costumes for children at Mary Free Bed hospital
October 28, 2019
Several Grand Valley State University engineering students were part of a large volunteer effort to provide custom-made Halloween costumes for several dozen children who are current or former patients at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Weeks of preparation culminated October 26 with the fourth annual "Halloween Heroes" parade at the hospital, where community groups, students, patients and their families all showed off the costumes that were specifically designed to work with wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
Jake Stephens is a Grand Valley engineering student and has been involved in this volunteer activity for the past four years, helping organize several building and planning days before the parade. "I enjoy building and being creative but when you can do it and make a real difference in the kid's life, it makes it that much better," Stephens said of his experience.
Stephens said most of the time volunteers only build the base when the kids are in for measurements and try to surprise them with the completed costume on parade day. "Seeing their faces light up and the pure joy is truly amazing and something you won't forget," Stephens said. "It's a lot of work, and we built an incredible 34 costumes this year, but the kids make all of the hard work worth it."