For many people, “having a heart” means having feelings of some sort towards something in life whether it be a person, a pet or a hobby.

For Kiley Hoppe, it means all that to her and its also the title of her toy and book drive.

“Have a Heart Toy and Book Drive” is a community involvement project for Hoppe she came up with in order to be more involved in special needs children.

The toy and book drive is to help Kosair Children’s Hospital. Hoppe said she is doing this because she wants to give back.

“I have been so blessed in my life and community service let me help someone else who may have not been so blessed. I just do it simply because I want to help others – it makes me feel good to give,” Hoppe said.

Hoppe decided to take on a small charity project after spending last summer in the Rogers’ Scholars program.

“This past summer I went to Rogers’ Scholars, which is an academic summer camp program and I was there with several students across the state and all of them had been very, very involved in community service, so that inspired me to take on a community service project of my own,” Hoppe said. “I had always thought about going into the field of pediatrics and I’ve had several problems with my eyes and with sickness as a child and I was close to children’s hospitals and that’s why I chose to do that.”

Hoppe said at Rogers’ Scholars she was able to interact with a lot of students from across the state and was given the opportunity to listen to speakers from various universities as well as doctors from Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital.

“We got to listen to a lot of doctors speak and we got to work with Somerset Community College and practice IVs on mannikins,” Hoppe said. “It inspired me to do this because I want to be as involved in my community as the students in other areas were.”

Hoppe is a junior at Clinton County High School and she is the daughter of Melissa Tallent. She said she plans on pursuing something in the medical field, either in pediatrics or medical research.

“I started at the first of February and it’s going to run through the month of February,” Hoppe said. “I’m going to take the toys up there on March 3. I had a few donations. I’ve had the majority of the donations dropped off at the Klassic Shop, but people can drop them off at the high school as well.”

So far, Hoppe said she has received a lot of support from her family and friends during the duration of this toy and book drive.

“My mom has been very instrumental with helping me organize this project,” Hoppe said. “A friend of mine, Troy Butler, he has helped a lot. He also attended Rogers’ Scholars.”

She also said she has been working with the “Best Buddies Club” at Clinton County High School.

“We’ve been working with the special education students by putting up posters and things,” Hoppe said. “I think its important to help others as much as you can.

For more information on the “Have a Heart Toy and Book Drive”, contact Melissa Tallent at 606-387-5596.

All donations need to be received by February 24, 2012.