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L-R: Olivia Knowles, Macy Mewborn, Chasen McLamb, and Bennett Brown
Kenansville Elementary School’s BETA Club launched a heartfelt initiative to support children with long-term illnesses. Led by six 4th and 5th graders, the “Let Your Light Shine” project recently partnered with Love for Layla Grace, Inc., a local nonprofit that provides love offerings to children in eastern North Carolina with cancer or other long-term illnesses. The goal was to collect Layla’s favorite toy, Legos, and other playthings for two local children’s hospitals and the Ronald McDonald House.
Initially conceived as a project entry for state and national BETA Club competitions, the initiative quickly evolved into a significant mission to provide comfort and entertainment for children under medical care.
L-R: Layla Grace, Robin, and Macy Mewborn
This project is dedicated to the memory of Layla Grace Mewborn, who passed away in 2016 from brain cancer. Layla was the daughter of Kenansville first-grade teacher, BETA Club advisor, and local family chicken farmer Robin Mewborn. The children also honored Brantley, a fellow club member facing heart surgery.
The toy collections began with a booth at the school’s annual fall festival last year and continued with a major toy drive in February of this year. The students gathered over 20 Lego sets, several doctor kits, headphones, various small toys, and a generous donation of 48 cancer survivor dolls.
L-R: Katherine Wilson, Macy Mewborn, Chasen McLamb, Bennett Brown, and Brantley Williamson
In March, club members delivered the contributions to Duke Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald Houses in Durham and Greenville, NC, and Riley’s Army, which supports children with cancer and their families in North Carolina.
“Going to Duke and seeing Layla’s nurses made me feel close to her again,” said Macy Mewborn, Layla’s younger sister. “We were the ones giving stuff to the kids to make them feel comfortable, just like other people did when she was in the hospital.”
Fellow club member Bennett Brown added, “It makes me feel good inside, and seeing other kids happy makes me smile. It’s something I wish I could do every day.” Other members of the project team were Olivia Knowles, Chasen McLamb, Brantley Williamson, and Katherine Wilson.
The local club’s project placed in the top 10 nationally at this year’s BETA convention in Savannah, Georgia. House of Raeford Farms FLOCK was pleased to help sponsor the trip so all the club students could attend.
The plan is to continue these toy donations on an annual basis. “We hope to keep Layla’s light shining as we shine for Jesus,” echoed these caring and determined elementary students.