7-year-old Emily Hough wanted to give back to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children after her treatment there. In July 2011, Emily was diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis – a rare disease that affects only three out of every million children.
Emily says she wasn't quite sure how she wanted to give back until her dad, Josh Hough, suggested thinking of her favorite place to eat. “What kid's favorite place to eat isn't a donut shop?” said Josh Hough. So the Houghs went to their favorite donut shop, which isn't just any donut shop, The Hole Thing in Forney, Texas.
Josh Hough says, “We asked The Hole Thing if we could hold a fundraiser there before we knew any specifics or how we were going to do it. Without question or hesitation, they said yes.” A lot of love and care went into making the 720 monkey shaped, chocolate and banana flavored donuts – much like the sock monkeys Emily and her family, friends, and volunteers make for children at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in the name of “Emily's Monkeys.”
Emily's Monkeys sold all 720 of the monkey donuts in two days, raising nearly $2,120, including donations. 100% of the donations and proceeds will be donated to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. Not only did they raise more money than they thought possible, but The Hole Thing matched the donations. Emily's Monkeys and The Hole Thing will be presenting a check for $4,239 to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital on Saturday, June 8, 2013, during what's expected to be the biggest sock monkey making party in Emily's Monkeys history.
The sock monkey making party will be held at the old firehouse in downtown Forney during the Forney Arts Council's “2nd Saturdays" artisan market. All the sock monkeys made will be donated to children at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital's surgery department. “The monkeys will be with the children before surgery, during anesthesia, and after surgery. These are very vulnerable moments for often very young children because their parents aren't able to be by their side to comfort them,” said Josh Hough.
There will be two opportunities for volunteers to join in on the sock monkey making party on June 8. There will be a morning shift of volunteers from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and again from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. 4T's BBQ of Forney has donated a BBQ lunch for the volunteers and participants at noon.
Follow Emily's Monkeys on Facebook by clicking here, The Hole Thing on Facebook here, and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital at their website here.