Traverse City Record-Eagle

Stephanie Beach: Northern Notes

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June 12, 2011

Northern Notes: Stuffed animals 'march' in

By STEPHANIE BEACH Local columnist

To commemorate the special day when an adoption is finalized, Family Court Judge David L. Stowe offers a stuffed animal to the adoptee and any young relatives or friends with them. The stuffed animals are displayed on a large bookshelf, and the children are allowed to select whichever one they want.

After discussing several suggestions for service projects, members of the seventh-grade National Junior Honor Society at Traverse City East Middle School voted to collect stuffed animals for Judge Stowe to distribute to new adoptees. The students asked the student body and staff to bring in stuffed animals during March and placed collection boxes around the school. They called their project "March of the Animals" and received 472 stuffed animals to present to Judge Stowe.

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The American Legion Junior Baseball Directors would like to thank the public, commissioners and sponsors who came out to celebrate the opening ceremony of the 63rd baseball season.

"With your support the American Legion can continue the great tradition of baseball for our youth. Thank you," the Board of Directors wrote.

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American Legion Post #35 Auxiliary wrote to thank the Grand Traverse area businesses that allowed them to distribute their poppies in May and to all the outstanding contrtibutors who donated money for the poppies.

All the proceeds from the poppy sale stay in the northern Michigan area to help veterans in need throughout the year.

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Nan Lewis wrote on behalf of herself, her fellow "Girls on the Run" coaches and Girls on the Run members at Interlochen Community School to thank the community, school staff members, families and friends for their generosity in donating to the girls' community service project.

The girls collected pledges for laps they ran at a single practice and then ran to the Interlochen Tom's Food Market where they purchased 249 items to give to the Women's Resource Center through the "Movers for Moms Mother's Day Drive."

"The girls worked in teams of four or five and used calculators and coupons to extend their funds," Nan wrote. "In all they raised more than $1,976 and bought everything a mom would need from diapers and formula to toothpaste and shampoo."

But the girls weren't done. They gave their receipts to the Interlochen "Way to Grow" Program to buy snacks for the birth to 5-year-olds who come to Interlochen Community School for play groups.

"It was an amazing experience for all of us, and they feel fantastic learning that even a small group of girls can make a big difference in their community when they all work together," Nan wrote. "Thank you to all who gave so generously."

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In a related letter, Valerie Kirn-Duensing, director of development for the Women's Resource Center, wrote to thank the local Two Men and a Truck franchise that sponsors the "Movers for Moms" donation drive that benefits all the mothers who are clients of the Women's Resource Center.

"Mara Crowfoot and her crew outdid themselves this year by recruiting Westwoods Elementary School, Interlochen Community School's Girls on the Run group and radio station 106 WKHQ radio personalities Josh and Heather," Valerie wrote. "Movers for Moms collected more than 1,600 diapers, several cases of baby formula, baby food and hundreds of personal care items. All of us here at the Women's Resource Center, and in particular our Doula Teen Parent Program, are humbled by such tremendous community support."

Stephanie Beach can be reached at sbeach@record-eagle.com.

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