For kids who are worth the wait

Alex Morrison decided to become a humanitarian one day at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, when he observed a group of kids stranded in the waiting room. Some of them had broken bones or other afflictions, but all of them were suffering from one thing in common: Boredom.

“They were probably there about three hours,” said Alex, 13, who has Type 1 diabetes and goes in for a checkup every three months.

Alex and his twin brother Zachary, both Newport Beach residents and Temple Bat Yahm members, had always made a point of bringing materials with them to the waiting room. Watching less prepared kids, however, gave them an idea. This week, along with longtime friend Zach Socoloske, the boys donated more than 100 “activity packets” to Saddleback Memorial Hospital in Laguna Hills.

The donation served as all three boys’ bar mitzvah project, but it also gave them a chance to undertake charitable acts on a large scale.

“It’s really for kids who are unexpectedly in the emergency room and have nothing to do,” said the twins’ mother, Fayeron Morrison.

Last summer, the boys began planning and assembling the materials for their packets, working when they could around school, sports and religious training. The Morrisons and Zach, all 13 and entering the eighth grade, have been friends since they were still in the cradle. The twins attend Pegasus School in Huntington Beach, while Zach goes to Corona del Mar Middle School.

Ultimately, the group created five different kinds of packages: three for different age groups, plus one in Spanish and another consisting of a joke book. In addition to crossword puzzles and other activities, the packets contain crayons, yarn, stickers and other colorful items.

Even though the project was homegrown, the boys treated it like a genuine business venture — complete with test marketing. To ensure that the packets would hold the attention of children, Alex, Zachary and Zach tried them on neighbors and younger siblings.

“We think each packet should keep kids occupied at least two hours,” Fayeron Morrison said.

Once the trio had its donations set to go, it had to find a recipient. Ultimately, KCAL-9 news anchor Michele Gile, a friend of the Socoloskes, recommended that the boys send their packets to Saddleback, which gets only a few non-monetary gifts.

On Monday, the group presented most of its packets to the hospital, and planned to deliver the rest later in the week. Steve Geidt, the CEO of Saddleback, said he was pleasantly surprised by the boys’ offer, noting that waiting rooms were often places short on entertainment.

“It’s a nervous time,” he said. “They [children] don’t know what to expect. Things are out of your control. It’s not the most comforting of times, even though the care they get is great.”