POCA
Project: Tatum’s Bags of
Fun
Summary: Scared, sad,
sick and bored, that is
often the day-to-day life
of a child hospitalized
weeks or months on end
for cancer treatment. No
one knows that better than
Tatum Parker, a two-time
cancer survivor. Following
her first battle with cancer
in 2008, Tatum sought
to solve the boredom by
creating gift bags for other
young cancer patients. The
highly anticipated bags
became known as Tatum’s
Bags of Fun. At a cost of
about $350 each, Tatum
stuffs backpacks with ageappropriate video games,
toys, movies and crafts
for young cancer patients
hospitalized across the
state of Indiana.
Through a cancer relapse,
Tatum continued to make
her bags. “I have delivered
smiles, laughter and hope
to over 1,700 Indiana
children fighting cancer by
giving them a Bag of Fun,”
said Tatum. She has help
from young volunteers who
comprise “The Kids’ Board.”
The board hosts events
such as dance marathons
and fun runs/walks to fund
Tatum’s Bags of Fun.
36 Inspired
Project: Game Changers
Tackling Hunger
Summary: Isaac McFarland
travels daily into an
impoverished area of
Shreveport to attend a top-rated
magnet high school. He does
not leave the neighborhood the
way he found it. From the time
Isaac entered high school he
noticed the unkempt, hungry
children he passed on his
drive to class. His concern for
those less fortunate children
caused Isaac to found Game
Changers Tackling Hunger.
Said Isaac, “I believe in the
power of one person impacting
one life.” Isaac started small,
supplying local homeless
shelters with beef grown
on his family farm. Soon he
recruited thousands of fellow
4-H members, classmates, city
leaders and junior cattlemen
to collect or donate food or
decorate tackle boxes for food
delivery to individual homes
and organizations.
Together, Isaac and his posse
have collected, packed and
delivered more than six tons of
food to pantries and homeless
shelters. In response to
Isaac’s pleas, local farmers
raise fresh vegetables for his
projects. And, his 26 “youth
ambassadors” help him raise
community gardens and teach
over 12,000 classmates about
the importance of healthy living.
Project: Kendra’s Call for
Komfort
Summary: There is nothing
fashionable about hospital
gowns, a fact well-known by
Kendra Springs. In 2011,
Kendra was diagnosed with
neuroblastoma, a childhood
cancer. The fashionista, facing
several years of long hospital
stays, had little in the way
of fashionable, comfortable
clothing to wear. In between
treatments she went on a
shopping adventure to find
stylish, comfortable hospital
wear along with plenty of games
and activities to keep herself
occupied. Soon thereafter,
Kendra’s Call for Komfort was
created.
Kendra’s not-for-profit
organization provides
personalized care packages
which include clothing, games,
crafts and gift cards that can
be used for shopping online,
or even to fill the gas tank of
travelling families. “Nurses often
tell us how the mood in a room
changes once a kid receives a
care package. It can bring a little
bit of happiness to a child who is
scared or sad,” said Kendra.
Multiple fundraisers have helped
Kendra raise over $50,000.
Some of the funding goes
directly to pediatric hospitals
for the purchase of special toy
versions of medical equipment
to help scared patients better
understand their treatments.
/InspiredKid