Retired educators Bob and Martha Frances Monroe have dedicated the past five years to volunteering at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, delivering ‘Happy Carts’ filled with toys, games, and activities to young patients, according to sources familiar with their efforts.
During their volunteer work, Martha Frances Monroe noticed children’s enthusiasm for LEGO sets. Her observation inspired her to involve students at New Albany Elementary School in a project designed to spread joy to children receiving treatment at St. Jude.
Monroe collaborated with Elizabeth Vogel, a gifted education teacher, who developed an interdisciplinary service-learning project for her second- and third-grade Excel students. The project aimed to teach students lessons that extended beyond traditional subjects, emphasizing the impact of their actions on others.
Thanks to Monroe’s insight, 155 LEGO sets will be assembled, offering 155 moments of happiness for children undergoing treatment at St. Jude. The project demonstrates how young students can learn that even small ideas and efforts can make a meaningful difference, sources said.
