December 9, 2013- Albany, GA- Last month, Erin Hutchins from the Albany YMCA delivered 28 pairs of brand new shoes to Alice Coachman Elementary School.While there,one of her friends arrived with 30 gently used coats. Clinton Johnson, Dougherty County's youngest county commission and a youth coordinator at Greater 2nd Mount Olive Baptist Church, delivered the coats just in time for the first cold weather of the season. Johnson is well aware of the needs of local school children and made wise use of the coats, all of which had been in the church's lost and found for more than a year. Over time, most churches and schools collect items that go unclaimed but can certainly be used, it just takes a bit of effort to find a new home for them. Thank you, Hutchins and Johnson, for thinking about these students. A special thank goes out to Eagle Cleaners for cleaning the coats, free of charge.
Perhaps you have never heard of the Mutual of America Foundation or the Community Partnership Award the foundation bestows annually. The Cancer Coalition of South Georgia has been recognized from among hundreds of organizations as outstanding in its partnership with the 32 counties it serves. As readers were recently informed by Carlton Fletcher's "Cancer Chronicles" series, the money raised for the Cancer Coalition stays in the service area, unlike many national non-profits. For all its work to make sure South Georgians receive cancer screenings, are educated about the disease and to provide for the needs of cancer patients and their families, the organization has been named among the top three in the nation. Along with the award came $25,000 to further the mission, something the South Georgia Cancer Coalition intends to do. Now you know.
Before you make you next visit to Dillard's, Smallcakes, Sweet Potatoes, BJ's Buffett or Merry Acres, take a look through the closets and drawers in your home. Any person that does not find a few items of winter weather attire and/or accessories that are no longer in use will surely be in a minority. This year's provisional class of the Junior League of Albany has collection boxes at the above mentioned locations in an effort to assist Mission Change as that group looks to help the less fortunate, some homeless, or others just going through a rough time. Coats, sweaters, socks, gloves, hats, sweatshirts, scarves and other items can be placed in the boxes. If you would like to see for yourself just where the donations are going, join Mission Change for its Christmas Eve brunch at First United Methodist Church beginning at 9 a.m.
Speaking of the Junior League, the group will celebrate 50 years of volunteerism in Albany next year. The list of service projects is endless as the women work diligently to give back to the community. As a part of the year-long celebration, a 50th anniversary seal has been designed by Albany Technical College student Robyn Malone.The seal will appear on everything from the website to the newsletters of the Junior League, identifying its half-century mark. As Albany Tech Design and Media Production and Technology student Malone grows nearer to finding her place in the workplace, she definitely has a great item to add to her portfolio.
The Secret Santa that swept through Albany just before Thanksgiving has a job like no other. People at the Lord's Pantry, the Albany Rescue Mission, the Goodwill Store and several other locations were handed $100 bills. Some of those recipients may have not seen that amount of money in a while, particularly money that was not already earmarked for food, shelter, utilities and other basic necessities. The only stipulation Santa put on his gift was "help others when you can." A reasonable request from one who knows all about helping others.
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