Students With A Purpose

Students With A Purpose was formed in August of 2002. the purpose of the program is to provide preventive, intervention activities and services for youth from many walks of life. Helping youth who are at risk socially, academically and those that are in foster care. The youth look for opportunities to give back to their community through their own service. These students we speak of are all middle and high school aged.

Students With A Purpose volunteered their services to Community Based Care during Make A Difference Day, 2004. It was their task to organize the clothing closet, which provides clothing for foster children in Volusia and Flagler Counties. Many times children come under the care of Community Based Care without any clothes. Students With A Purpose helped make the community Based Care clothing system user friendly. They did a terrific job, and this task incorporated a lot of team work.

Some of the youth involved with Students With A Purpose are part of the foster system and could relate to the experiences and clothing needs of foster children that Community Based Care serves. Because of this connection, Students With A Purpose chose to help Community Based Care and opened their hearts to serve their community by giving back with care for their peers.

When the Students With A Purpose group first saw the facility that they were asked to clean. They were unsure if they could make a difference because working in the storage room appeared to be a very difficult task. In the end they all came together, rolling up their sleeves to get the job done, and had a lot of fun doing it. Ms. La Verne White, their Director, pitched in as well. When this task was completed, one of the youth yelled, “you can finally see the floor!” Truly this was a great accomplishment that will touch hundreds of children served by Community Based Care.

Students With A Purpose has done and continues to provide other volunteer work in the community. They cleaned up the grounds at The George Marks Elementary School, The chapel of Divine Mercy Church, and The Spring Hill Community Center. They also read stories to children in various day care centers and collect food and make baskets for families in the community that are in need. In addition, the group spends quality time with seniors in the community by just visiting as well as cleaning and mowing their yards. Some of the students speak to younger children about the dangers of drugs. They also volunteered their services as youth counselors for DeLand Art Museum during their Art Summer Camp program.

These students attend 5 different schools in Deland, FL and are directed by Ms. LaVerne White. Recently, the School Board of the Volusia County School District recognized Students With A Purpose, and they were chosen as award winners in the Youth Group Category. They also won the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award for Flagler and Volusia County for Youth. The group has also been recognized by the United Way and Bright House and was awarded for their service to the community in 2005.

Jan Walker

Jan Walker serves as the sponsor of the Danville High School 4-H Club. For the past five years, Walker has encouraged leadership and civic responsibility within the setting of community service. This after-school club continues the membership of twenty-five tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade students. They juggle athletic events and practices with jobs and class work along with family responsibilities. And they keep their promise of service to Walker. Even if they cannot attend the scheduled meeting, the 4-H members bring in projects and reports. They volunteer for events and activities. They share themselves with younger students.

One of their fun activities centers on Halloween. The elementary students enjoy the high school students coming to the classrooms. The 4-H members are divided into small groups that read stories to the elementary students. These deal with the history of Halloween and its adventures. Before they leave the classroom, the 4-H members present the elementary students with “Trick or Treat” bags sponsored by The Optimist Club of Decatur. These bags have reflective tape so that the “little guys” can be seen safely during the dusk hours.

The 4-H Club also salutes the high school teachers. Cards and flowers were presented to teachers as a thank you for the encouragement received. Many of the teachers were surprised when this small remembrance appeared in their classroom. Walker also hosts a Holiday Party at her house. The High school 4-H Club combined their party with the Student Council. Many of these students had been involved in the canned food drive and other activities around the holidays. They enjoyed the holiday spirit, reported on the successful activities, and planned spring events.

More than twenty-five of the 4-H members have participated in county, district and state 4-H events. They have developed leadership skills at Mid-Winter 4-H Teen Retreat. They have also competed in breads, lawn tractor, public speaking, automotive and bicycle at county, district and state levels. They were participants in the Prudential Youth Leadership Institute Class I, II, III and IV. They encouraged younger 4-H members to work hard so that they are eligible for the Danville High School 4-H Club. It is a selective group requiring an adult endorsement.

The Danville High School 4-H Club brings its muscle, as well as its leadership, to hose the Morgan County 4-H Round Up in the spring. An excess of 200 youth participate in eleven different areas of 4-H demonstrations, public speaking, exhibits and outdoor activities. This is held at the Sparkman Civic Center in Hartselle. The Danville High School 4-H Club is the backbone of this event.

Walker is an integral part of the 4-H, but her community work also includes serving at the church, with scouting and with education.

Katherine & Christina Sommers

Animal abuse and neglect are a concern that isn’t addressed everyday so people don’t think about it often. Animal shelters everywhere are filling up to the limit and more and more people are just dumping more and more animals off in the shelters. They need all the help they can get so that is where Katherine and Christina come in.

Their project of raising awareness demonstrates hands-on service that results in building connections with the community. This affects the community and although a community member may not own an animal, they are not isolated. Usually when there is a problem with an animal and they call for help with an animal, the community does not have any resources to help. Katherine and Christina have worked with many kids and adults in spreading the word about the problems the shelters face. They talk with hundreds of people and have made many appearances to discuss this topic. Although the race season to fundraise starts in March, there is another car show and another opportunity to raise money for all the pets in the shelters. These shelters need the sisters’ support to assist in food, money and supplies year round.

The money that is raised and used to buy food, get medical attention, and programs to inform people about the problems the animals face. When they have food and medical help, the animals can live healthy and have the happiness they deserve as living, breathing and feeling animal. People signed Katherine’s racecar for $1 to raise awareness for the shelter. Katherine has been driving a racecar since the age of 8 and has used this skill that she has won 3 championships for a worthy cause. A total of $870 as collected for the racecar signing and in this coming year, Christina will start racing and hopefully use her skill to raise awareness and money to continue to assist with the shelter.

Camp Challenge

The North Carolina Bankers Association membership recognized 11 years ago that a number of deserving middle-school students across our state were not exposed to financial literacy, the essentials of credit, and specialized reading, writing and speaking skills. Additionally, these young people did not have the opportunity to have a summer camp experience that so many other students do. It seemed the perfect match to partner with the state’s 4-H program to bring these elements together, making a difference in the lives of our state’s young people.

Since then, the camp has continued to flourish and was expanded from five sessions to six this year, going from mid-June to early August. The number of campers has grown from around 100 to over 600. We continue to have a positive response from the leaders of the groups who attend camp. There are usually a certain percentage of campers who come back a second time and go through a new curriculum.

This year, we conducted a pre and post survey of the campers that will provide us with solid data that they are benefiting as much as possible from the experience. We also sent their parents a survey to see if their child’s behaviors have changed since attending the camp. We eventually plan to develop a tracking system that will allow us to gauge the progress of the campers throughout high school and give a scholarship to one of the campers who has shown the most growth.

The Association works with its members to sponsor several hundred kids from across the state each year to attend the camp. One the students have been through the camp and learn leadership skills, they take this knowledge back to their school and communities. All of the banks who sponsor campers are placed on an honor roll on the NCBA Web site. They are also recognized with their names on sponsorship boards during many of our meetings. The banks also get the satisfaction of knowing that they are making a difference in a child’s life. First Charter Bank, Charlotte, has made significant donations to the camp’s computer lab, which is now called the First Charter Computer Center. A plaque on the outside of the building dictates this and a picture were placed in our magazine, Carolina Banker. We have several partners in this effort, including North Carolina 4-H, boys and Girls clubs, North Carolina State Treasurer’s Office, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Each partner has also been recognized in our magazine.

For the past six years, several hundred bankers have attended a workday at camp to help get it ready for the next year. This project is unique because it is a state-wide effort among our 144 member banks to sponsor kids from their communities to attend. The camp is in a setting with rich history and the goal is to keep that preservation. It is also unique because so many people are involved, especially during the workday. It is all about teamwork and camaraderie.

Matt Stiles

Matt Stiles is a role model to young and old in our community. As a school guidance counselor, students look to him daily for crisis support and interventions, or as someone to listen to everyday “life problems”. As a volunteer, his efforts produce positive contributions throughout Morgan County.

Foremost, Matt is the recipient of the President’s Gold Service Award for volunteerism, the first and only adult in Morgan County to receive this prestigious recognition. This service learning achievement was for 500 hours of volunteer time.

During the year, Matt completed a certification course as a volunteer firefighter. As a member, he answers emergency calls as a medical first responder and firefighter for the Falkville Fire Department. These calls range from heart attacks, motor vehicle accidents and suicide attempts to house and structure fires.

As a member of the Board of Directors of the Volunteer Center from 2001-2004, Matt has provided expertise, vision, and sweat equity to several projects sponsored by the center. Those functions include Taste of the Valley, the annual golf tournament, the Ducky Derby, and the annual Can-a-Thon. Last years Can-A-Thon in Morgan County collected and distributed more food than the surrounding counties of Limestone and Madison.

For 2001-2005, Mr. Stiles has served as the school representative for the annual United Way pledge drive. It has been incumbent on Matt to contact each teacher at his local school during the event to educate and encourage his peers to support the community through giving to the United Way. Morgan County Schools’ overall pledges for the past few years have increased significantly.

Matt drives a school bus for various field trips at school. Since he volunteers his time as a driver, this lowers the overall cost of the trip for students. He organized a trip to the Red Ribbon March in Decatur, allowing over 60 at-risk students and chaperones from two county schools to be a part of the rally. Matt has taken students to the past four marches, held annually in October. Similarly, he volunteers his driving abilities for the annual Kids’ Day at the Hartselle Civic Center, sponsored by the American Legion, Post #52. Last year, more than 50 at-risk students visited Santa Claus and received a Christmas gift.

Having retired from the U.S Navy, Matt is a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post #10774 in Falkville. The VFW Post is actively involved in the community, providing funds to numerous local organizations, including an annual $10,000 scholarship to the local high school. This same Post received last year’s Volunteer of the Year award for adult group.

Last year at Ryan School, Matt organized and sponsored a Junior Beta Club chapter. The school chapter has been defunct for 20 years, however, Mr. Stiles was able to involve teachers and the community in recognizing the academic and citizenship efforts of students.

Matt has served as an elected board member for the Morgan County Education Association for the past four years. This volunteer position allows him to be a liaison for his fellow teachers regarding issues of professional development, policy, pay, and benefits. Of noted importance is New Teacher Institute, where newly hired teachers are introduced into the county educational system and are supported during their initial years of teaching.

At his local church, Matt volunteers as an adult Sunday School teacher, drives the church van several months each year to allow shut-ins to attend services, and serves as chairman of the long range planning committee. He also meets others needs as a greeter before Sunday services, welcoming members and visitors alike.

Currently, Matt is on the stand-by list of therapists/case workers to volunteer with the American Red Cross, Decatur chapter, to provide relief along the Gulf Coast from hurricane Katrina. He is on a similar list as a chaplain for the North American Mission Board to assist in south Alabama. He hopes to be deployed for three weeks before year’s end to provide ongoing aide to families suffering from the storm’s effects.

Mr. Stiles’ efforts touch lives throughout Morgan County in many different ways. Whether it be through his employment or by volunteering, he is role model for our community.

Molly Mangold

Have you ever heard the expression “Good things come in small packages”? If you have, you can bet that it was said with 86 year old Molly Mangold in mind. For the last 22 years, Molly has volunteered as a Foster Grandparent at Ponderosa Elementary in Billings, Montana where she has influenced the lives of hundreds of at-risk children. Molly, originally from England, married an American G.I. after WW II and in 1946 left her family for a new life in the United States. Molly’s husband passed away in 1984 and though it would be easy to sit at home and grieve, Molly’s independent spirit “kicked in” and in her words she decided to” get off my duff and do something. I had enough of feeling gloomy and needed to live life on my own.”

Molly has served more than 16,000 hours during her 22 years and has seen many changes at the school. The one thing that remains constant, however, is the feeling she gets when she’s able to help the children. When asked what she likes best about volunteering, Molly says,” Getting those big hugs from the kids. How lucky can you be”.

Jim Eddins

Everybody knows Jim…Monday through Friday he arrives at the hospital by 6:30 am. If you ask him why so early, his reply goes something like this: “Well, everybody needs me here…I’m here to help everybody”. Jim Eddins has been with the hospital since 1991and has donated 5,500 hours of service to date. Prior to becoming a hospital volunteer, Jim spent years volunteering with Open Door Ministries. He has far exceeded President Bush’s challenge to all Americans to donate two years or 4000 hours of service during our lifetime.

Jim seeks out ways to make meaningful differences. In addition to his regular assignments, he assists with blood drives has been recognized for “signing-up” a record number of employees/volunteers to give blood. Jim is one of our most active/healthy volunteers performing some of our most laborious jobs… pushing carts, delivering mail, escorting patients, and transporting supplies. His positive attitude, dedication, and high level of activity, make him a role modes as we experience the challenges of aging.

Jim is excited about turning 91 years young April 24th and does not plan on slowing down anytime soon.

Norma Wright

Norma Wright, a Big Sister in the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Program and winner of the state of California Big Sister of the Year 2005, is a retired teacher and widow. She is hearing and fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and has been matched with profoundly deaf Little Sister Ashley for five years. By sharing numerous outings over the years, Norma has enhanced Ashley’s exposure to the Deaf community, attending performances by the Deaf West Theatre and numerous Deaf Expo conventions, bringing Ashley’s prior communication skills with ASL from nearly nonexistent to a high level. Ashley has learned how to interact with hearing and deaf individuals of various backgrounds. Says Ashley about her Big Sister, “I enjoy Norma. She makes me feel good about being deaf, and my life.”

“I’m not sure which one of us has learned more about Deaf culture,” Norma acknowledges. “I am happy to be a witness to her language development, one of the goals of this mentoring experience. Ashley has grown to trust me and value my advice, so that to me is the best product of our relationship: that she knows she has a supportive, non-threatening sounding board for her feelings, hopes and dreams.”

Dennis Schoening

Missoula Manor Homes proudly nominates Dennis Schoening for the Missoula Aging Service Senior of the Year 2005. Dennis has served the needs of not only the Missoula Manor Homes community but also the greater Missoula community as an active volunteer and motivating leader.

For starters, Dennis has served with enthusiasm and heartfelt commitment as the Missoula Manor Resident Council President in both 2005 and 2004. Prior to that, he served as the 2003 Vice President. During his 2005 tenure he has contributed a great deal of time and effort in the formation of committees, group outing and activities that improve the daily lives of Missoula Manor residents. In addition, he has made sure annual activities have proceeded as planned. He can be found meeting with our Administrator Joyce Anderson before each and every Council meeting to review the agenda, And, he has made certain that residents have been honored for their contributions to the Manor. His commitment to his position affects the lives of residents both now and in years to come.

Each year the manor’s greatest fundraising event is the Annual Endowment Fund Raffle. As Resident Council President, Dennis greatly assisted in coordinating this year’s event. It should be noted that this year’s raffle raised twice as much money as any prior Endowment Raffle. This was due in no small part to Dennis’ efforts in motivating residents to get out and sell to family, friends and even strangers. His gregarious marketing skills and heartfelt devotion to the place he now calls home also earned him a place as one of our top raffle ticket sellers this year.

Another wonderful event put on each year by Missoula Manor is the Annual Friends and Family Potluck Picnic. This is a time for Missoula Manor residents and their friends and family to take a moment to enjoy summer at the Manor. Ever since Dennis moved into the Manor four years ago, he has spent much of the Annual Picnic criss-crossing the lawn selling 50/50 tickets. There is no denying that many of the smiles that day are because of the friendly banter and jokes Dennis shared along the way.

For three years now, Dennis has faithfully called bingo number after bingo number during the weekly bingo games at Missoula Manor. Before each game he arrives early in order to see which players have arrived. If he notices any of the regulars missing, he makes sure each missing player is contacted before the games begin. As an added bonus, he provides Missoula Manor “Public Service Announcements” in between rounds by notifying players of upcoming events and activities, often with a dash of his own flavor of humor.

In 2004, Dennis was enthusiastic about the benefits of the Medicare approved drug discount cards. Julie Galsted, AIMS (Associates in Medicare Savings) program manager, was searching without success for a senior to be interviewed and videotaped in a short informational segment for ABC news to spread information about these drug discount cards to eligible seniors throughout the area. Dennis agreed to be interviewed and was videotaped purchasing his medications with the drug discount card. By stepping forward he helped countless seniors realize how easy it would be to use the new cards.

Most of all we nominate Dennis because when we hear his booming, resonating voice and delightful chuckle filtering down the halls of Missoula Manor, we know that it will followed by the joyful laughter of fellow residents. Our residents’ lives are all the better because Dennis helps them feel more connected, more involved in their community, their home that is Missoula Manor. It is people like Dennis, who give of both their time and skill, which makes this world a truly better place to live.

Andrea Boone

Whenever there is a need RSVP volunteer and PVSA honoree Andrea Boone is there to help. Andrea is a Disaster Action Team volunteer at the American Red Cross. Andrea’s duties include being an ‘on call’ person. With more than 620 volunteer hours in just the last year she has responded to a variety of emergency calls in the middle of the night. No matter the time or weather she is the caring shoulder for families in crisis, everything from fire victims to missing children, floods and medical emergencies. She is the one who meets with and listens to victims and helps them get what they need to survive their desperate situations. She helps families whose homes have burned down, goes on search and rescue missions, meets victims in hospital emergency rooms, and provides food and supplies to rescue workers. Andrea advocates with her peers of the great need in our community for volunteers to get involved. She is selfless and cares deeply about others and does whatever it takes to get the job done. She is always willing to help. No matter the task, just ask and she is there making things easier and better for everyone.