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MLKDay's photostream |
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MLK Day Activity
Our communities have come together in the last few months to gather food,
clothing and gifts for the needy ones surrounding them, we encouraged that
same spirit of giving into the month of January and as we celebrate Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day. .
Our Foster Grandparent Program participated in a nationwide MLK Day project.
The project is Help Us Learn ~ Give Us Hope, founded by retired Colonel Gary
LaGrange from Manhattan Kansas. Gary was the winner of a National Service
Award for this project.
Help Us Learn ~ Give Us Hope is about supporting school children in
difficult places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. School supplies are gathered
and sent directly to participating soldiers, who in turn give them to the
children and the schools in the neediest areas of the region.
This project was ongoing for the week leading to MLK Day. Twelve of our
Foster Grandparent Volunteers acted as leaders and gathered supplies from
schools, churches, businesses and banks in our area.
Over 60 teachers, school counselors and other staff at schools contributed
time, cash and supplies. Forty members of K-Kids and Builders Clubs led the
project in two schools, gathering supplies and cash.
A Democratic Women's Group of 30, along with County Judges and other City
officials gathered supplies and cash for shipping costs.
A total of $246 in cash was collected to pay for shipping costs. Nineteen
boxes, weighing approximately 270 pounds were shipped. We estimate enough
supplies for over 300 children/students.
We made this holiday a day ON, where people of all ages and backgrounds came
together to improve lives, bridge social barriers, and move our nation
closer to the "Beloved Community" that Dr. King envisioned.
Carol Burnett, FGP Director
Carol Burnett
Foster Grandparent Program Director
White River Area Agency on Aging
Batesville, AR
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Uploaded on Jan 25, 2011
Breakfast program
Breakfast program
