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Caring spirit shown in fundraising efforts and work of volunteers
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 06:34 a.m. EDT, Oct 04, 2008
Today's column really is a testimony of the sweet, do-for-others spirit of the best of our citizens, young and old alike.
My hope is you will find your calling in one of these stories, or decide to do something meaningful to help someone else.
Perhaps someone like Addie Polk, the 90-year-old Akron woman, who apparently shot herself this week as deputies were approaching her property to evict her.
There's plenty of quiet suffering among us. We need only open our eyes to notice a neighbor has had her electricity turned off.
I'm talking about folks who, through no fault of their own, have fallen between the cracks and have no way of getting back up during these economically difficult and challenging times.
Applause for Robinson
Applause and more applause for the students, staff and PTA at Akron's Robinson Community Learning Center, who took it upon themselves to raise awareness and research dollars this week for the American Cancer Society.
Interested parties paid a minimum of 10 cents for the privilege of wearing pink — an entire outfit, a shirt, short laces or even a ribbon — and participating in a walk around the new school building.
Cancer has hit home for children and staff this school year, as two members of the school family are battling the disease — first-grade teacher Dana Kellogg, breast cancer, and Title One tutor Karen Pruitt, leukemia.
PTA President June Underwood and longtime PTA volunteer Carla Long say the foot-soldier production was a way to mimic the big Walk for Cancer, which will take place Oct. 19.
Teacher Dawne Blackburn proposed the idea, which netted more than $143 for the cause.
School principal Linda Green and teachers — dressed in pink — led by example. ''Perhaps there is a doctor out there who will someday find a cure,'' Green challenged her young charges. ''You're young, smart and ready to do something no one has done before. . . . I want a cure in my lifetime.''
Nine-year-old Brianna Long spoke about the urgency for a cure. ''We have a lot of teachers and a teacher's husband who have cancer. We just wanted them to know we love them. And that it's going to be OK.''
Other students were in lockstep with Brianna's sentiment.
''Cancer is serious. People can die from it,'' said second-grader Alla Al-Garawi, a vision in pink.
Classmate Makayla Kauffman acknowledged a sadness in the air for the health problems facing Kellogg and Pruitt. ''I just feel sad for anyone who has to go through it,'' she said.
Six-year-old Dametrius Bennett was a real standout in a pink T-shirt listing ''10 Reasons Why I Wear Pink'' — including ''to annoy you; smart people wear pink; my dad did the laundry.''
''My grandmother told me it was important to wear today but that I can't wear it anymore after today,'' Dametrius announced.
Congratulations to all of these future leaders who have their hearts in the right place.
Volunteers help elderly
Beautiful bouquets to the hugely important ''Renew the Town, Akron!'' program that will go a long way in keeping 100 low-income elderly and disabled owners safe, warm and dry this cold weather season.
Volunteer from the Professional Association of Comfort Contractors (PACC); Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC); and Electrical Contractors of Northeast Ohio — supported by Rebuilding Together Summit County, Dominion East Ohio, the Akron Community Foundation, the city of Akron and Summit County — are fanning out today all over the city to do free furnace, plumbing and electrical checks.
Make no mistake, they are the unsung heroes — treasures, really — among us as they go about doing on-the-spot repairs and more.
''The event is critical in ensuring that recipient homeowners have safe furnaces and properly functioning electrical and plumbing systems as they prepare for winter,'' Paul Holm, executive director of Rebuilding Together, writes. ''In fact, this event will provide more than $40,000 in free repairs this year alone.''
Hats off to all technicians and volunteers.
Fundraiser at Gardens
The Gardens at Western Reserve Assisted Living and Odyssey HealthCare are hosting a Texas Hold'em fundraiser from 7 p.m to midnight Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Gardens, 45 Chart Road, Cuyahoga Falls.
Gardens resident Fred Mourey — diagnosed at 56 with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease — was the impetus for the event.
''Mourey, who was active in the community and is still broadcasting a local TV show, The Joe Average Poker Show, was admitted to the facility as a result of an increased need for care,'' Odyssey spokesperson Carol Patrick said. ''Fred has no family.''
ALS is a progressive neuro-degenerative disease affecting the person's ability to walk, talk and eventually breathe. There is no known cure or cause.
''Over the past several months, Mourey, his hospice provider Odyssey and the Gardens staff discussed the need to raise awareness and funds for the ALS foundation,'' Patrick said. ''Due to Mourey's direct connection to poker, the idea for a Texas Hold'em tournament came about.''
Advance registration is encouraged; cost is $75. Limited-day-of-the-event seating is $85. Non-card players who attend are asked for a $35 donation. For information, call 330-928-4500.
Sixth-grader inspires
Grace Benson, a sixth grader at Akron's Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts, who recently donated gently-used clothing and stuffed animals to Akron grandmother Delores Board, has inspired others in her family to help.
Board, who was featured in an earlier column, struggles every day to care for the grandchildren who came to live with her after the death of their 33-year-old mother last year.
Asked at that time, ''Why do you want to help?'' 11-year-old Grace answered, ''It's because I know how they feel. I was in third grade when my mother (Laurel A. Dodie Benson) found out she had cancer. Then she passed away.''
A short time after Grace's gift, I heard from her aunt, who also sent a gift for me to forward to Board.
This week I heard from Grace's grandfather, James B. ''Jim'' Alley from Adams, Tenn.
''As a proud grandpa, I wish to thank you for the kind words about my grandchild, Grace Benson,'' Alley wrote.
''After 35 years teaching in Akron schools, I retired to Tennessee. Family and friends often send articles of note from the good old Beacon.
''I would like to get this gift card ($100, from Wal-Mart) to the family Grace wished to help . . . I'm pleased and proud of my son-in-law Bret Benson for his care of my daughter Dodie and my two grandchildren.''
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Today's column really is a testimony of the sweet, do-for-others spirit of the best of our citizens, young and old alike.
My hope is you will find your calling in one of these stories, or decide to do something meaningful to help someone else.
Perhaps someone like Addie Polk, the 90-year-old Akron woman, who apparently shot herself this week as deputies were approaching her property to evict her.
There's plenty of quiet suffering among us. We need only open our eyes to notice a neighbor has had her electricity turned off.
I'm talking about folks who, through no fault of their own, have fallen between the cracks and have no way of getting back up during these economically difficult and challenging times.
Applause for Robinson
Applause and more applause for the students, staff and PTA at Akron's Robinson Community Learning Center, who took it upon themselves to raise awareness and research dollars this week for the American Cancer Society.
Interested parties paid a minimum of 10 cents for the privilege of wearing pink — an entire outfit, a shirt, short laces or even a ribbon — and participating in a walk around the new school building.
Cancer has hit home for children and staff this school year, as two members of the school family are battling the disease — first-grade teacher Dana Kellogg, breast cancer, and Title One tutor Karen Pruitt, leukemia.
PTA President June Underwood and longtime PTA volunteer Carla Long say the foot-soldier production was a way to mimic the big Walk for Cancer, which will take place Oct. 19.
Teacher Dawne Blackburn proposed the idea, which netted more than $143 for the cause.
School principal Linda Green and teachers — dressed in pink — led by example. ''Perhaps there is a doctor out there who will someday find a cure,'' Green challenged her young charges. ''You're young, smart and ready to do something no one has done before. . . . I want a cure in my lifetime.''
Nine-year-old Brianna Long spoke about the urgency for a cure. ''We have a lot of teachers and a teacher's husband who have cancer. We just wanted them to know we love them. And that it's going to be OK.''
Other students were in lockstep with Brianna's sentiment.
''Cancer is serious. People can die from it,'' said second-grader Alla Al-Garawi, a vision in pink.
Classmate Makayla Kauffman acknowledged a sadness in the air for the health problems facing Kellogg and Pruitt. ''I just feel sad for anyone who has to go through it,'' she said.
Six-year-old Dametrius Bennett was a real standout in a pink T-shirt listing ''10 Reasons Why I Wear Pink'' — including ''to annoy you; smart people wear pink; my dad did the laundry.''
''My grandmother told me it was important to wear today but that I can't wear it anymore after today,'' Dametrius announced.
Congratulations to all of these future leaders who have their hearts in the right place.
Volunteers help elderly
Beautiful bouquets to the hugely important ''Renew the Town, Akron!'' program that will go a long way in keeping 100 low-income elderly and disabled owners safe, warm and dry this cold weather season.
Volunteer from the Professional Association of Comfort Contractors (PACC); Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC); and Electrical Contractors of Northeast Ohio — supported by Rebuilding Together Summit County, Dominion East Ohio, the Akron Community Foundation, the city of Akron and Summit County — are fanning out today all over the city to do free furnace, plumbing and electrical checks.
Make no mistake, they are the unsung heroes — treasures, really — among us as they go about doing on-the-spot repairs and more.
''The event is critical in ensuring that recipient homeowners have safe furnaces and properly functioning electrical and plumbing systems as they prepare for winter,'' Paul Holm, executive director of Rebuilding Together, writes. ''In fact, this event will provide more than $40,000 in free repairs this year alone.''
Hats off to all technicians and volunteers.
Fundraiser at Gardens
The Gardens at Western Reserve Assisted Living and Odyssey HealthCare are hosting a Texas Hold'em fundraiser from 7 p.m to midnight Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Gardens, 45 Chart Road, Cuyahoga Falls.
Gardens resident Fred Mourey — diagnosed at 56 with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease — was the impetus for the event.
''Mourey, who was active in the community and is still broadcasting a local TV show, The Joe Average Poker Show, was admitted to the facility as a result of an increased need for care,'' Odyssey spokesperson Carol Patrick said. ''Fred has no family.''
ALS is a progressive neuro-degenerative disease affecting the person's ability to walk, talk and eventually breathe. There is no known cure or cause.
''Over the past several months, Mourey, his hospice provider Odyssey and the Gardens staff discussed the need to raise awareness and funds for the ALS foundation,'' Patrick said. ''Due to Mourey's direct connection to poker, the idea for a Texas Hold'em tournament came about.''
Advance registration is encouraged; cost is $75. Limited-day-of-the-event seating is $85. Non-card players who attend are asked for a $35 donation. For information, call 330-928-4500.
Sixth-grader inspires
Grace Benson, a sixth grader at Akron's Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts, who recently donated gently-used clothing and stuffed animals to Akron grandmother Delores Board, has inspired others in her family to help.
Board, who was featured in an earlier column, struggles every day to care for the grandchildren who came to live with her after the death of their 33-year-old mother last year.
Asked at that time, ''Why do you want to help?'' 11-year-old Grace answered, ''It's because I know how they feel. I was in third grade when my mother (Laurel A. Dodie Benson) found out she had cancer. Then she passed away.''
A short time after Grace's gift, I heard from her aunt, who also sent a gift for me to forward to Board.
This week I heard from Grace's grandfather, James B. ''Jim'' Alley from Adams, Tenn.
''As a proud grandpa, I wish to thank you for the kind words about my grandchild, Grace Benson,'' Alley wrote.
''After 35 years teaching in Akron schools, I retired to Tennessee. Family and friends often send articles of note from the good old Beacon.
''I would like to get this gift card ($100, from Wal-Mart) to the family Grace wished to help . . . I'm pleased and proud of my son-in-law Bret Benson for his care of my daughter Dodie and my two grandchildren.''
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
akron, oh
Posted 08:34 AM, 10/04/2008
Thank you Jewel for always being the voice of compassion and common sense.
