S: Is for Stories that Inspire!

I apologize for the column being late but I ended up in the emergency room again Thursday, due to complications from my fall at Duane Reade and the stress it has caused. I know that there are a lot of people like me who when asked if they want an ambulance think of the cost involved and think it unnecessary, but this is your health and your life, and it is precious. I am learning that more and more as this goes on. I hope those of you who read me, store this in the back of your heads because nobody tells you these things and it is important. Here are children who are making a difference and ways you can join them.


Megan's Library of Love book drive began in 2006, in memory of a student who passed away at Cedar Grove-Belgium Middle School as a tribute to her. The project was formed out of the desire to honor Megan, to help the community heal, and to make a difference in the life of others. Students whose memories of Megan, were the diligent help she gave to her and her enthusiasm for learning and reading gave way to create the Library of Love. Every February, on Megan's birthday, fifth graders at Cedar Grove-Belgium Middle School collect donations of newly purchased books and send them to a school in need. The "Love books" are truly a gift of love meant to inspire reading and learning. Students earn the money for postage by writing letters to local businesses. The fifth graders also have the responsibility of labeling every book with a Library of Love sticker, sorting the books into categories, and packing all the books for shipping. In the two years since the Library of Love project began, students have collected over 5000 newly purchased books to send to schools in need. In 2006, 3419 books were sent to St. Bernard's Parish to help rebuild their school library after Hurricane Katrina devastated the community. In 2007, 1613 books were sent to White Mountain School in Alaska, who lost their high school in a fire. Students look forward to sending the gift of reading to other schools in the future. You can also help by sending a newly purchased book suitable for a K-12 school library to: Megan's Library of Love c/o The Fifth Graders Cedar Grove-Belgium Middle School 321 North Second Street Cedar Grove, WI 53013. You can also nominate a school in need of books to build a library by Emailing manderso@cgbsd.com or
tgerlach@cgbsd.com or czablocki@cgbsd.com Include the name, address, contact person, and phone number of the school, as well as a description of the needs of the school being nominated.

Melissa Poe was just 9 years old when she began a campaign for a cleaner environment by writing a letter to then President Bush. Through her own efforts, her letter was reproduced on over 250 donated billboards across the country. The response to her plea for help was so overwhelming that Poe established Kids For A Cleaner Environment (Kids F.A.C.E.) in 1989. There are now 300,000 members of Kids FACE worldwide and is the world's largest youth environmental organization. Poe has also petitioned the National Park Service to implement a "Children's Forest" project in every national park. In 1992, she was invited as one of only six children in the world to speak at the Earth Summit in Brazil as part of the Voices of the Future Program. In 1993, she was given a Caring Award for her efforts by the Caring Institute. Since the organization started, Kids F.A.C.E. members have distributed and planted over 1 million trees! Ongoing tree-planting projects include the creation of Kid's Yards - backyard wildlife habitats and currently Kids F.A.C.E. is involved in the exciting Earth Odyssey, which is a great way to start helping. "Starting the club turned out to be a way to help people get involved with the environment. Club members started doing things like recycling, picking up litter and planting trees as well as inviting other kids to join their club." "We try to tell kids that it's not OK to be a slacker," she explains. "You need to start being a responsible, environmentally friendly person now, pronto, before you become a resource-sucking adult." To learn more log onto http://www.kidsface.org/

When 11-year-old Aubyn Burnside heard about how many children in foster care programs are forced to carry their belongings in garbage bags because they cannot afford suitcases, she was shocked and saddened. "I thought they must feel like garbage themselves," she said. So, Aubyn founded Suitcases for Kids, dedicating herself to ensuring that every child in foster care would have a bag of his or her own. In the beginning, Aubyn spent her time making posters and local speeches in her community of Hickory, North Carolina. "In January of 1995, I expected to start seeing some donations of suitcases. I figured people would be getting new luggage as Christmas gifts, and in turn would get rid of their old luggage." But for three weeks, she received nothing. Determined not to give up, Aubyn and her mother visited the Salvation Army, and purchased 31 suitcases for $15. This helped launch her organization and eventually donor suitcases started arriving in mass quantities. Six years later, Aubyn has collected over 25,000 suitcases, and her charity has chapters in every state and in over ten foreign countries. She has been recognized in the National Geographic Hall of Fame, inducted into the National Caring Institute in Washington, D.C., and received an award from Prudential for spirit in her community. But, Aubyn is modest about her organization's overwhelming success. "It has to be a shocking experience for these kids," she says, "and I just wanted to help."
Aubyn and her mother hit the road at least once a week, speaking at churches, schools, and local community groups. Each time they leave behind a starter kit so other kids can get involved - and a message of hope. Aubyn says, "Age is no limit. Kids scan do whatever they set their mind on doing. And one kid can make a difference." Aubyn's main goal became to train people to automatically donate their unused suitcases, backpacks, and duffels to children in foster care. She hopes it becomes as automatic for people -- just like recycling glass and newspaper. To learn more and to donate log onto http://www.suitcasesforkids.org/SuitcaseNeeds.htm or you can write Aubyn at: P. O. Box 1144 Hickory, NC 28603

In order to make a difference you do not have to be anything but creative and caring and then what difference you can make. Now these are F.A.C.T.S. that make living inspired.