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Erie Times-News |
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| 6th-grade class vows to 'Pay It Forward' BY SHARLA BARDIN sharla.bardin@timesnews.com [more details] Published: June 06. 2008 6:00AM Erie Times News representatives Mike MaLoon and Terry Cascioli present a check for $1,000 to Mrs. Sharon Szmanski's sixth grade class for their efforts in their Blankets, Bears and Books project. (Scoot Williams / Erie Times-News) Think of this as a beary special way to brighten a child's day. It involves a bundle of stuffed bears, storybooks and blankets that are intended to give kids at SafeNet something to cuddle with and smile about. The "Blankets, Bears and Books" project, developed by teacher Sharon Szymanski and her sixth-grade students at Wattsburg Area Middle School, was named the winner of the "Pay It Forward" challenge. The challenge, from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Foundation and the Erie Times-News, offered an opportunity to think of an act of kindness and a chance to receive a $1,000 prize to make it happen. The effort is also part of the newspaper's 120th anniversary celebration The students' project will result in 26 sets of the bears or stuffed dogs, a book and quillow -- a blanket that can be folded into a pillow -- given to children served by SafeNet. The nonprofit, 1702 French St., provides emergency shelter, counseling, education and legal advocacy to victims of domestic violence. THE FINALISTS The "Pay It Forward" challenge resulted in 109 submissions. Of those, 18 were selected as finalists, including the winning entry. Here are the other finalists and descriptions of the projects: Jessica Mago, of Erie, proposed obtaining permission to alter a few downtown parking meters. Money collected from those meters would be donated to a designated local nonprofit. Sandra Bernier Blatnick, of Meadville, suggested that the prize money go to Maplewood Junior-Senior High School. The money would be used to improve the landscaping around the school and to make improvements to the nature trail behind the school. Amy Barrall, of Cranesville, proposed a scrapbook project to encourage soldiers in Iraq. The "albums of thanks" would be filled with messages of support. With the help of two local scrapbooking groups, a youth group and a class of sixth-graders, Barrall has collected enough messages and pictures to fill four albums. Money would go to purchasing supplies and shipping costs. Paul Cousins, of Waterford, suggested using the prize money to buy T-shirts for anyone who raises $100 in pledges for a 5K walk to raise money for John Kanzius' cancer research. Karen Malone, of Erie, proposed using the money to support programming and equipment needs for the Therapeutic Riding Equestrian Center, which serves physical, mental, emotional and social well-being of individuals with special needs through safe equine-assisted activities. Carey Williams, of Erie, suggested using the money to host a fundraiser during Discover Presque Isle to raise money and donations to ensure that every child who needs assistance with the purchasing of school supplies and uniforms can receive it. First Book-Erie proposed using the money to provide three books for each of the 150 children in the "Read It and Keep It" program. It would provide one book per month per child during the summer. Denny Cornelius, of Grand Valley, suggested using the money to establish a small enterprise that would help elderly, low-income families and persons with disabilities in the area to maintain and improve their homes in an affordable manner. Services would include lawn care, residential interior and exterior painting, general cleaning, snow removal and small home repairs and improvements. Christine Schalles, of Corry, proposed, on behalf of the Corry Garden Club, using the money toward improving City Park, specifically the gazebo area and the intersection of sidewalks by the flagpole and plaque honoring those who served in Desert Storm. Heidi Monroe, of Waterford, suggested using the money to offer to senior citizens with fixed incomes. She would surprise many of them with cash, a gift card to a local grocery store or a gas card. Patrick A. Tarasovitch, of Erie, proposed donating $500 to the resident veterans in the Pennsylvania Soldiers' & Sailors' Home and $500 to the World War II Memorial in Erie for its care and upkeep. Heather Stempka, of Erie, suggested using the money to create a calendar to raise money for young breast cancer patients, their families, awareness and research. Her goal is to find women, diagnosed at the age of 40 or younger with breast cancer, to focus on each month. Candice Ott, of Erie, would donate the money to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Agnes Gehres, of Erie, would donate the money to the Soldiers' & Sailors' Home. Darla Priester, of Erie, proposed donating the money to the Erie Zoo, Erie Humane Society, A.N.N.A. Shelter, and Because You Care. Danelle Soltis, of Albion, suggested using the money for the Northwestern Lady Cats softball team to purchase equipment to use in volunteer activities and for incentives and prizes for youth. Marie Novak, of Edinboro, would put the money toward her ongoing project of selling quilted bags used as grocery bags. She is raising money to benefit a family that has lost a husband and father. Szymanski, of Fairview Township, said she and her students were thrilled when they heard they won. Forty-three students are involved in the project. "They screamed. They jumped up. They shouted," she said. "I think it is just wonderful that the Times provided this opportunity for the kids to do more good deeds for other people." The project was one of a total of 109 submissions for the contest. Other ideas included donating money to animal shelters, sprucing up community parks, raising money for cancer research and helping out veterans and families in need. The winner was selected by the following judges: Erie Times-News Features Editor Kevin Cuneo, Public Editor Liz Allen, Executive Editor Rick Sayers, Erie Times-News Reader Advisory Board member Susan McGrain and Roberta Rhodes, an area resident who is active in the community. "It was difficult to chose a winner from so many outstanding entries," Sayers said. "People really poured their heart and soul into this challenge. It reflects positively on all the good-hearted people in the region." McGrain, of Fairview Township, said there were a lot of good entries, and she was pleased to see the response. "I thought it was great the way that the community came through with this contest," she said. "They really felt passionate about how they would use that $1,000." McGrain said the winning entry impressed her because the idea helps a local organization and, if necessary, the students were willing to come in during their summer vacation to complete the work. Offering comfort Szymanski, a reading and language-arts teacher, came up with the idea for the project. "I was thinking something for children would be perfect." She talked with the class about it, and they committed to the task. The work is complete, and delivery is set for June 23. The comfort packages will go to kids in the shelter first and then to those in SafeNet's children's programs, said Rick Liebel, public relations and development director at the organization. Liebel, of Erie, said the project is appreciated. "Some of these kids come with nothing, just the clothes on their back. We give them things to make themselves as comfortable as they can be in shelter," he said. "When these kids come to us, they leave behind their homes. They leave behind, sometimes, their pets. They leave behind their friends." The bears, books and blankets will offer some relief. "It's going to make their life at shelter a little more comfortable," Liebel said. Last week, Szymanski's students were busy writing tales and drawing pictures to go with the storybooks. The stars of the adventures are the bears and dogs. The teacher said the class will also use the prize money to buy books suited for older children and teens. Rachel Post, 12, was working on her storybook with classmates. She said it feels good to be able to help children at SafeNet. "I hope they feel safe and just loved." Amanda Sonney, 12, added, "The kids that are there need something to cuddle with. I feel, like, really happy and glad that I'm doing this." So does Ben McGill,12, who is thrilled about what the class is doing for other kids. "I hope they feel that there are people out there who will help them and are willing to," he said. Szymanski has been amazed by her students' kindness and generosity this school year. Their other projects have included selling handmade crafts to benefit a local food pantry and conducting a toy drive at the school during the Christmas season to donate toys to the food pantry and Erie City Mission. "They are the most generous, selfless kids that I've ever worked with," she said. She has high hopes for what they'll do in the future. "This group really wants to make a difference in the world," Szymanski said. "I'm so proud of my boys and girls." SHARLA BARDIN can be reached at 870-1791 or by e-mail. |
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