WHS Student Creates Nonprofit To Help Kids In The Hospital
Story and Photos by Julie Unger
Little multicolored bricks might be a nightmare for wary parents, but for Wellington High School student Daniel Clein, they’re something extremely special. They hold the power to cheer up a sick child, spur creativity and make a long-term hospital stay less dreary.
Clein’s mission started in 2015, when he was visiting his cousin in the hospital and met a child named Anthony who loved Star Wars Lego collections.
“That’s what he wanted, and nobody supplied Legos to hospitals because they’re so expensive. When they contacted me, saying, ‘If you have anything you can do to help us out, it would be amazing,’ I realized how useful Legos are as a toy for kids, because they can play with them over and over and with different ways every time they’re played with. They really, truly foster that curiosity and imagination,” Clein said.
And so, Bricks Busting Boredom, which recently received its official nonprofit status, came to be.
Clein started a Bricks Busting Boredom club at Wellington High School, where a group of students wanted to help Clein with his goal of sharing Lego bricks, which are easily washable, with children in the hospital.
He delivered 230 pounds of “upcycled” Lego bricks and 50 boxes of new Lego packages to Palms West Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 19 for young patients to enjoy.
Once Clein graduates next year, other students will remain working on the day-to-day operations of the organization with Clein overseeing things.
“They’re an absolutely amazing help in doing what we do,” he said. “I couldn’t appreciate them more for their initiative and for helping out.”
Wherever Clein winds up for college — his goal is to attend the University of Florida — he will be able to remain in constant communication with the club, which will continue organizing Lego drives.
The teacher sponsor for the group, Candace Vollrath, along with other teachers at the school, have been supportive, Clein said.
“Our goal for the future is to reach out to as many schools… and set up as many Lego donation drives as possible, so we can then take those collected Legos and donate to as many hospitals as we can,” he said.
There are currently collection boxes at Wellington High School, Wellington Landings Middle School and Binks Forest Elementary School.
Bricks Busting Boredom has donated to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and Palms West Hospital, and next plans to donate Lego bricks to Palm Beach Children’s Hospital.
To assist in his endeavor, Clein won a $12,000 grant through the Palm Beach Philanthropy Tank program.
“This is wonderful. I couldn’t be more proud of him,” mom Deborah Clein said.
Rather than saying they are “recycling” Lego bricks, Clein prefers to say that Bricks Busting Boredom is “upcycling” them — they’re giving something a new, more valuable life.
“What we do is take their Legos and upcycle them to these children, and let them know that they’re benefiting the lives of these children and helping the children pass the time between treatments, helping keep their spirits up, keeping them busy and keeping the creative juices flowing,” Clein explained.
Aside from schools, several businesses are now Bricks Busting Boredom drop off locations, such as the Farmer’s Daughter Produce Market on Southern Blvd. If the drop-off locations aren’t convenient, contact Clein to make other arrangements. “We’re looking to expand to more business partners and get more boxes out there,” he said.
When Clein dropped off his latest batch to Palms West Hospital in October, his grin stretched ear-to-ear.
“It feels absolutely amazing to see the kids have their days brightened by this and see their eyes light up when they see the new toy,” he said. “We do this solely for the fact that, if we can brighten the kids’ day just for the smallest bit, then it makes it all worth it.”
Clein is looking forward to “more smiling kid’s faces,” he said, as the program continues to grow. Eventually, he’d like to introduce the idea to every school in Palm Beach County.
“That’s why it’s so exciting to come and do Lego drop-offs, because that’s the best part, it’s the most fun, seeing those kids get so excited and seeing that we had an effect on them, even in the smallest way,” he said.
Palms West Hospital CEO Eric Goldman is especially appreciative of Clein’s efforts. “To have a member of the community, and specifically another child in the community, be so willing to give of themselves, not just at the hospital but in their time away from the hospital, really says a lot about his compassion, his caring, and it makes me feel really good to be a part of something so special,” Goldman said.
He added that it’s important to hospital staff to give young patients some room to express themselves and grow through play. “We have to allow them to continue to be a child while they’re here at the hospital,” Goldman said. “We have to not just care for the illness, we need to care for all the child’s needs.”
Clein’s hopes to brighten as many children’s days as possible. “To any schools that would like to help, we’d absolutely love to get in contact with you,” he said.
For more information, e-mail Clein at daclein@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/BricksBustingBoredom.
