This year’s Saline County Career Center’s Advanced Marketing students, Jessica Parada and Lizvet Menendez, are working with Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, to help bring cheer into the lives of children who are currently patients at Mercy.

According to a news release, as part of their DECA community giving project called “Show Mercy” the students have three main activities planned throughout the holiday season.

Their first activity included having their chapter members and students paint pumpkins for all 240 patients at Mercy, in hopes to provide some Halloween fun.

DECA Advisor Kerry Henley says after reaching out to local businesses, Jenkin’s Market donated all 240 pumpkins for the project. On Sunday, October 24, all 240 pumpkins were delivered to the Mercy representative, Stephanie Earling.

In November, the chapter is scheduled to begin working on making a special craft for the children to participate in.

The project will conclude in December with the biggest objective of reaching out to local businesses for support and help in collecting Christmas toys from the community to be given to as many patients as possible.

Any businesses or community members who are interested in learning more and helping with the “Show Mercy” project are urged to contact Kerry Henley at (660) 886-6958 (ext. 12201).