Making a Difference

Sponsored by the Regional Healthcare Foundation, the Making a Difference campaign for 2009 generated several projects for the betterment of the community; and winners were honored recently in each of five categories, with a grand prize winner also recognized.

In the category of Individuals, Olivia Atkinson and Alyssa Pixley, both sixth grade students, were honored for their Coat and Pajama Give Away Program.

The girls began their campaign in early October by distributing handmade flyers soliciting coats, sweaters and children's pajamas. They also established a drop-off collection box for donations and collected 213 items to be given away.

On the last Saturday in October the girls hosted a "free yard sale" in downtown Dexter and distributed nearly all their items, saving a few for next year's campaign. The girls won $125 for their work.

"I'll continue to hold this coat give-away campaign as long as there are people willing to donate," said organizer Olivia Atkinson.

In the School category, "Team Hornets" from Advance Schools came in first in the competition with a community project that was close to their hearts.

"Our community and some of our co-workers have been affected with cancer and we wanted to help fight this disease and help the ones who are survivors and honor the ones who have lost their battle," said organizer Debbie Welch.

The group, through a series of efforts, raised over $5,000 that was donated to the American Cancer Society.

Projects of Team Hornets included a chili supper, a Breast Cancer Awareness booth at home ball games, Dress Down Days at Advance Schools, meal sales and a mini-Relay for Life.

For their efforts, the Advance group was awarded $250.

In the category of Organizations, honors went to Boy Scout Troop 200 for their continued work in displaying American flags in and around the downtown area on each patriotic holiday.

"A huge part of the Scouting experience," said an organizer of the boys' project, "is showing respect--respect for yourself, respect for others and respect for your country. What better way to show respect than to display the symbol of our freedom?"

Over 50 Boy Scouts participate annually in the flag project and display the 3x5 flags on President's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Flag Day, Patriot Day and Veteran's Day. Over 100 flags are placed on display across town to mark these special occasions. Boy Scout Troop 200 received a cash prize of $250 for their commitment to patriotism in the area.

In the Business category, the staff at County Wide Insurance took top honors. The company employees, numbering 20 strong, assisted approximately 36 families during the fall of 2009 by donating food items to be distributed through the First Baptist Church's "Food Box Ministry."

The food baskets were distributed to families in the area who were affected by the 2009 layoffs at the area's largest employer, then EMCON Technologies.

"We decided this was a great opportunity for our staff and agency team members to be able to work together in order to help those laid off from EMCON and area businesses," said Dave Ellinghouse of the County Wide staff.

"It was a great team-building and learning experience for our staff."

A $250 prize was awarded to the County Wide team for their contribution to the community.

The Sacred Heart Parish School of Religion Sunday School group was awarded a prize of $250 for their project called, "Angel Tree."

The project, which involved 84 children from the parish, focused on transformation in the lives of children of prison inmates and on fostering reconciliation between the child, the incarcerated parent, and family in this Prison Fellowship Program.

"We were able to be the hands and feet of prisoner parents to help them reach out to their children," explained sponsor, Shearon Harris of the parish.

"Christmas is about strengthening parent-child relationships, not just about Christmas gifts."

A total of 17 children were helped through the efforts of the Sacred Heart Church School of Religion students.

The grand prize winner of the Making a Difference campaign for 2009 went to Darlene Shelton of Dexter, who headed up an effort called "Toasty Toes." The effort involved collecting new shoes for local school children in need.

Shelton's effort began after her high school son, who worked in the local schools as a cadet teacher with young students, told his mother the story one day of a child at school whose shoes were in such poor shape that her feet remained wet all day from walking to the bus stop in the morning rain.

"That night we made a plan to figure out what size the child wore by measuring her foot and we bought the shoes and new socks the next evening."

The child couldn't wait to show off her new footwear the next day to Shelton's son, who unbeknownst to the child, had delivered them to school.

"It was the best money I every spent," said Darlene Shelton of the purchase, and she began to research the need through local teachers. Two years after the initial purchase, Toasty Toes was born.

Perhaps the best reward for the Shelton family's efforts comes in the form of a handwritten thank-you note from a recipient of her kindness. It reads, "Dear mam, Thank you for the new shoes. They are the best new shoes and they make me run real fast. red is my favrit color. Thank you for my shoes."

For their achievement, Toasty Toes was awarded the grand prize of $500.

The Regional Healthcare Foundation in Dexter annually sponsors the Making a Difference Program. Further information regarding the program may be obtained by contacting the foundation at 573-624-1607.