Local Girl Scout helps bring ‘Books for Babies’ program to Memorial Health System

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV)- In 2024, Ambassador Girl Scout Mackenzie Sterling set out to achieve her Gold Award by uniquely helping children in our community.

Mackenzie wanted to provide each family with an admitted baby to the Memorial NICU with a book to encourage reading during their hospital stay.

After sharing her idea with the Memorial Hospital Foundation, they agreed to purchase the vending machine. The vending machine was purchased with funds donated by the Krewe of Neptune’s Line 1 Poker Run.

Mackenzie also completed other fundraising activities and received community donations to fill the machine with more than 350 books.

Upsilon Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority teamed up with Mackenzie to keep books in the machine and continue to support the community