Sometimes teenagers get a bad rap, but four Tauranga Girls' College students are proving they can be model citizens by providing care packages to parents of sick children.

The school's Year 10 extension class were given the opportunity to plan a project for the benefit of the community – and Madison Randall, Ruby Matthews, Joy Ackerley and Francesca Taylor willingly took up the challenge.

Madison Randall, Ruby Matthews, Taina Savage, Joy Ackerley, Felicity Pitt and Francesca Taylor at Tauranga Hospital's Children's Ward preparing to meet the parents.

Together they wanted to do something to help the children's ward of Tauranga Hospital. Following discussions with the hospital's management, it was decided they would support the parents of sick children, as many of them were shouldering stressful situations and at the same time putting on a brave face for their children.

'What Madison, Ruby, Joy and Francesca have done is wonderful and it's great they are so engaged,” says Tauranga Hospital Children's Ward Nurse Manager Lynnece Dowle.

'What is clear is that they genuinely care about the children and their parents and what they are going through.

'It's a privilege they took the time out and that they chose our ward.”

The students applied to Legacy Trust for funding and set about arranging a morning tea for the parents in the ward as well as preparing a number of care packages for distribution to parents in temporary residence at the hospital.

'We realised that a number of parents arrive at hospital with their children in an emergency situation,” adds Lynnece.

'They have nothing with them to cope for a short stay so a basic pack of goodies such as shampoo, toothbrushes, facecloths and soaps would give them some help.”

The students made up 30 care packages in total – 20 for women and 10 for men.

'So many of the parents really appreciated the packs they were given,” says Madison. 'It made us all feel great knowing that we'd made such a difference to their lives.”

Lynnece applauded the effort from the students.

'It shows remarkable foresight to put the care packs together for the parents in temporary residence,” she says.

'While many may think about the effects of illness or injury on the patients it's sometimes easy to forget the significant impact it has on their families as well.

'Actions like this are a credit to them, their school and their own families.”

Legacy Trust representative Taina Savage and the students' teacher Felicity Pitt accompanied the students to the hospital to participate in the event.

'It was fantastic to see the kindness and consideration that these young people showed to others through this project,” says Taina.