Cedar Rapids students take home sunscreen, new books as part of ‘summer vacation kits’ aimed at health

May 23--CEDAR RAPIDS -- More than 500 students from Garfield and Taylor elementary schools went home with bags stuffed with bottles of bug spray, sunscreen, new books and games on Wednesday, as schools get ready to let out for summer vacation June 1.

UnitedHealthcare, a private insurance company that administers Medicaid coverage in the state, provided the health kits to the students.

Wednesday's event was the first time the insurer has provided the "summer vacation kits," which cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to provide.

"This is a very, very nice gift," special education teacher Brett Calcara said to a crowd of fourth- and fifth-graders at Taylor Elementary. "It's something they didn't have to do. It's very nice of them to give you these things to enjoy, so what do we want to tell them?"

A chorus of voices shouted "Thank you!" as students headed back to class.

"I got a green one!" Ava Hergman, 9, told a friend in the hallway. "A green water bottle!"

It's hard to say what impact the health kits will have on students, Taylor Principal Andrea Scott said. But, she said, about 90 percent of her students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, an indicator of poverty.

"These are things that may not be plentiful in a lot of their homes," Scott said, as students tried to resist bouncing their new basketballs in a classroom. "You can tell the balls are really desirable."

One student slathered on sunscreen while others talked about looking forward to reading.

"I love this book," Ava said. "I've never heard of it before, but it looks amazing."

UnitedHealthcare has previously made donations to schools across Iowa, including for winter coats and new, accessible playgrounds, said Katie Bonner, the company's vice president of marketing and member experiences.

The company has provided coverage for some 600,000 poor, disabled or elderly Iowans since the state privatized its Medicaid program in April 2016.

"Really, this is part of a long-standing investment and commitment UnitedHealthcare has made to the state of Iowa," Bonner said.

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