Acts of Kindness: Hospital security guard finds way to bring smiles to patients
Eugene OR April 26 2023 “Travis is just a very genuine, good hearted person. He goes out of his way to please people, and it’s really sincere. It’s not fake,” said Brian Bennett, security manager, Bay Area Hospital.
When Travis Melton, a Bay Area Hospital security guard, was just five years old, he experienced major losses.
“My first brother got leukemia, and at 4, he passed away. At the same time, that same year, soon after my great grandfather died. Both were very big influences in my life,” said Melton.
Travis’ mother became pregnant again with a new baby, and Melton says he was afraid his mother would never make it home from the hospital.
In his year and a half working at Bay Area Hospital, Melton noticed kids experiencing similar fear.
“I can understand; I can step back into it and see how kids would be terrified coming to the hospital,” said Melton. “With our community being so low-income, and difficult especially for kids. Christmas time when they come in, why not surprise them with something from Santa.”
Travis set out to bring toys to children in the hospital who were having a difficult time.
His first recipient — a child struggling to remain calm in his hospital room at the height of the pandemic.
“I started inquiring about toys and found out that the hospital had kind of pulled them back because they were worried about spreading COVID. I was given authorization, and I asked around and even family gave me the okay, and gave him some coloring books, gave him I believe a couple Hot Wheels cars. It made things so much easier for the staff… for the family.”
And like a smile, his acts of kindness spread with the entire security department collecting toys to help Travis’ cause.
“The hospital and corrections, it’s kind of the lowest points in people’s lives. Simple things like this can help make things easier,” said Melton.
It’s not just the kids who get gifts from Travis; even elderly patients have received heartwarming surprises during some of their most difficult times.
The father of three says he’s glad to see his own children begin to demonstrate the art of giving.
