Local school students share the love with hospital patients

LEWISTOWN, Pa. – Local students are making sure patients at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital feel the love this Valentine’s Day. The student council from Belleville Mennonite School recently donated over 100 valentines to inpatients at the hospital. 

The idea originated during a middle school student council meeting at the Mifflin County–based private school. Student leaders were reflecting on the recent passing of the school’s librarian. “The students noted their sadness about her passing and others mentioned how lonely it must feel to be sick in the hospital,” said Jessica Geissinger, student council advisor and a teacher at the school. “Another student mentioned the idea of making cards to be shared with people who are sick, and the idea of cards for patients at the hospital was born.”

The valentines were delivered throughout the hospital, and the heartfelt messages lifted the spirits of our patients who received them. 

“We challenge the students to think about ways they can make a positive impact in the school and throughout the community,” Mrs. Geissinger said. “The students were excited about this possibility, and many asked if they could make multiple cards. We’re very glad to be able to bring joy to others.”

Geisinger appreciates this compassionate, community-minded group of students. Thank you to the students at Belleville Mennonite School for sharing the love with our patients.

About Geisinger

Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates more than $8 billion in annual revenues across 163 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 500 medical professionals annually and is conducting more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With more than 27,000 employees, including 1,800 employed physicians and 5,200 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers, having an estimated economic impact of $16.8 billion on the state’s economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.