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People Serving People requesting new home
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008
Little things mean a lot.
What began as an idea in the hearts of 15 women who call themselves Women With Purpose (WWP) is going to put food on the tables of two local families in need this week.
Judy Kopcha, one of the members, phoned, asking me to identify two families who could benefit from the group's outreach, and I pressed to learn more about WWP.
''We decided to get together once a month [the third Wednesday] and just go to dinner,'' Kopcha said. ''We have grown from four to five to around 15 of us. We are from Ellet, Goodyear Heights, Tallmadge, Kent and Mogadore areas. Each month we plan a different theme for our get-togethers. We decided we still wanted to help the community and be active in community events. We have had a picnic combined with a baby shower for a mother in need outside of our group.''
In addition to the food baskets, WWP is donating toys to Ellet Good Neighbors.
By the way, Great Harvest Bread Co. donated a fresh loaf of bread for each of the baskets.
Help get boy moving
Reno and Kisha Thomas are doing everything they can think of to raise funds to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van to help transport their 6-year-old son, Emanuel ''Manny'' Zion Thomas.
To that end, they're sponsoring a Chili Dinner/Family Dance fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 at Calico Center (at the Weaver Learning Center), 89 E. Howe Ave., Tallmadge. Cost of the event, which includes a silent auction, is $5 for adults and $3 for children.
Here's Manny's back story, as outlined on the friendly flier about the fundraiser:
''At 7 months of age, he suddenly went into cardiac arrest. As a result, Emanuel was diagnosed with anoxic brain damage and cerebral palsy. He has developmental delays, seizures, high muscle tone, and uses a gastrointestinal feeding tube. Emanuel was also left with a lack of motor skills and limited mobility so he must use a wheelchair. . . .
''Due to Emanuel's size, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get him in and out of any vehicle. Because we don't have a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, Emanuel misses many activities, including visiting family and friends and other daily activities that we take for granted.''
An Emanuel Zion Thomas Benevolent Fund has been set up at FirstMerit Bank (any branch).
Fashion fundraiser
Kudos to all of the good-hearted volunteers involved with OPEN M's fashion fundraiser, which netted over $3,100 for the free clinic.
The free clinic serves the growing number of people without health insurance.
Help for autism families
Attention families who have children with autism:
There may be some financial help for you.
AutismCares, a consortium of autism organizations that have come together to support individuals with autism and their families during natural disasters and other catastrophic events, is providing emergency grants. You must meet the eligibility criteria, with a combined income of less than $65,000, to get help with housing, automobile repairs, insurance premiums, medical care, prescriptions, day care, funeral expenses and other items on a case-by-case basis. Assistance cannot exceed $1,500 per family.
Please contact autismcares@autismspeaks.org.
Looking for a home
Here's a desperate plea for help from a nonprofit that has long been in the business of helping others in need.
In fact, the 17-year-old organization is called People Serving People.
Formerly located in a church in Tallmadge, People Serving People (which operates solely on donations) is looking for a new home in which to sow its seeds of kindness — sewing for the nearly 30 different causes it serves.
For logistical reasons, the group would like to continue meeting once a week in the Tallmadge area. If you can help, please call Charlotte Fisher as soon as possible at 330-630-9210.
Bike bonanza
A great big thank-you to Ric Walter, who answered my big question: What organization accepts old bicycles, and refurbishes and donates them to needy children?
''We have taken six or eight bicycles to South Street Ministries, 130 W. South St., Akron; 330-761-1992; Duane and Lisa Crabbs,'' Walter writes.
''They are really doing nice grass-roots help for the neighborhood. . . . They make the kids earn the bicycles and show them how to fix them.''
Chorale kudos
Bravo to Hudson's Laurel Lake Retirement Community, which has formed quite a Chorale, featuring 40 senior singers from Hudson, Cuyahoga Falls, Twinsburg and neighboring environs, who will be in concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at the center, 200 Laurel Lake Drive, Hudson.
The chorale, conducted by Donna Anderson, will be joined by soloists Amy Hartman, flute; and Ruth Anderson, piano. Light refreshments follow the free concert.
For information, please call 330-655-1436.
Traveling pad
Beautiful bouquets to Doug Noernberg, a member of the Summit Psychological Associates staff, who recently received a Citizen Recognition award from his co-workers for a job well done.
''Doug raised $2,000 for the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association through his participation in the Start! Cleveland Heart Walk,'' writes social worker Beth Kuckuck. ''Doug, a stamp collector, turned to patrons of the StampWants.com Web site. He brought a promotional mouse pad he received from the site with him as he completed the 2007 Start! Cleveland Heart Walk.
''After the mouse pad was mailed to stamp collectors around the world, he then auctioned it off as part of his fundraising efforts for '08. Pictures of the mouse pad (affectionately called 'Traveling Mouse pad' or TM) have been taken everywhere, from California to Canada to the Netherlands.''
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Little things mean a lot.
Get the full article here.
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