Big, beautiful poinsettias to the Scott Talbot Salonspa for hosting a cut-a-thon from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday to benefit the family of Massillon resident Tim Kern, recently identified as one of the victims of the Craigslist killers.
Mr. Kern was no stranger to the salon’s staff. He coached several of their sons, along with his own, in baseball.
“Our hearts are saddened as this story unfolds,” said Norma Broomfield, Scott Talbot staff support manager. “During this holiday season we hope to do all we can to support the family emotionally and financially.”
All donations from the haircuts and styles, manicures and pedicures will go to the Kern family.
Please make your appointment by calling 330-494-2030. Specific stylists cannot be requested. The salon is at 4080 Fulton Drive NW, Jackson Township.
For information or to donate, please call Broomfield at 330-268-6113 or Jen Weisend at 330-209-3770.
Quilt auction
A baby will benefit from the handiwork of several local needle artists. But Akron’s Ronald McDonald House and its clients will be true beneficiaries.
A 30-square baby quilt, containing all of the letters of the alphabet and fashioned by sisters Michele White-hurst of Akron and Flo Liedl of Medina and Venice, Fla., and 14 family and friends, is being auctioned to raise money for the home-away-from-home for families whose seriously ill children are patients at Akron Children’s Hospital
Jo-Ann Fabrics donated the material for what’s been called a very labor-intensive project, and the quilting was done by Quilting by Shelly in Cuyahoga Falls.
Here’s the story as shared by Liedl:
“More than 35 years ago I started making these alphabet quilts for teachers in my building [Bolich Junior High School in Cuyahoga Falls] when they had their first baby. Each of the squares, with a letter of the alphabet and animal or object, was embroidered/appliqued by a different person. I put them all together and we gave it to the teacher. I always put tabs on the top of the quilt so it could be hung in the nursery.
“My sister Mickey [Michelle] volunteers at RMH and also makes quilts. Mickey called this summer to ask if I would help her make one to raffle as a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House. She then enlisted 14 women who had made exceptionally good squares for other quilts (best of the best).”
The last of the tickets were sold at Children’s Hospital’s Tree Festival.
Whitehurst, a retired teacher with Akron Public Schools, faithfully volunteers at Ronald McDonald House one day a week. “My now 28-year-old son was born premature, as were two nephews. So we spent a lot of time in the hospital’s NICU [neonatal intensive care unit], where we met a lot of families from out of town,” Whitehurst said.
“Let’s just say that Ronald McDonald House met my need for giving back. Ronald McDonald House does a lot of good. A lot of families who stay there can’t always afford to donate.”
In addition to Michelle Whitehurst and Liedl, these talented and nimble-fingered friends helped: Jan Chrodas, Jane Whitehurst, Patti Kelley, Sue Carter, Marilyn Purdy, Sherry Jackson, Rosemary Lombardi, Lisa Lutz, Kyle Freeman, Gail Erslan, Lou Ann Wellock, Lynn Petraitis, Debbie Sinopoli and Maria Newman.
Applause for students
Applause, applause for Marcy James, hospitality instructor at the Buckeye Career Center, whose students collected more than 700 pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House.
“This really is an accomplishment for any group, but this group [of mentally challenged students] is very special in so many ways,” said Ronald McDonald House Executive Director Anne Collins. “This is the second trip they have made to our house with a large pop tab donation.”
Pop tabs, believe it or not, are a significant fund-raising tool for the house. When recycled, 730 pounds yield about $500.
For ways you can help the families, please call 330-253-5400.
Food donation
A tip of the Christmas elf’s hat to Meagen Gries, Title One teacher, and the K-Kids at Echo Hills Elementary School in Stow, who championed a very successful schoolwide food drive on behalf of OPEN M (Opportunity for People Everywhere in Need Ministry) in Akron.
“The kids took care of everything, including posters to advertise, collecting goods and then moving the food to the van that came to pick it up,” Gries happily shared. “The school as a whole collected about 1,500 items, weighing just over 1,276 pounds!”
Hats, gloves needed
Staff, students and clients of the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities are inviting people to bring new or gently used hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves through Dec. 18 to the Achievement Center to place on the Giving Trees to help families in need.
“Over the past six years, the MCBDD has collected over 2,500 items that have been donated to local agencies, such as the Medina Community Services Center, residents of the Medina County Home, the Battered Women’s Shelter, Salvation Army of Wadsworth and the Rape Crisis Center of Summit & Medina Counties,” said Patti Hetkey, spokeswoman for the Medina County Board of DD. The Achievement Center is at 4691 Windfall Road, Granger Township.
Exhibit celebration
The closing celebration for former Akronite Angelo Merendino’s photo exhibit The Battle We Didn’t Choose will be 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 16 at the 78th Street Studios, Room 101, 1305 W. 80th St., Cleveland.
The 45-piece photo-documentary chronicles his wife Jennifer’s fight with breast cancer. The former Jennifer Wise also is from Akron. They now live in Manhattan.
Buddies for Buddy
Buddies for Buddy is the potluck dinner fundraiser planned for 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Boston Township Hall. The event will benefit Buddy and Jo Millhoan.
Buddy — who has taken care of his quadriplegic wife Jo for 30 years — was recently sidelined by emergency open-heart surgery. Doctors says he won’t be able to return to his job for six months.
Interested in helping monetarily? Please make checks out to Peninsula United Methodist Church “Buddies for Buddy Fund” and mail them by today to 1575 Main St., Peninsula, OH 44264. Interested in helping with routine household chores or snowplowing? Please call Randy Bergdorf at 330-657-2231 or 330-212-7443.
Special delivery
Big, beautiful Christmas poinsettias again to the Bath Fire Department, delivering holiday gifts to the community’s children from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 17 as a way of thanking the Bath community for its support throughout the year. Kids think it’s a kick to have their gifts delivered via firetruck.
Instructions say: “Gifts can be dropped off at the Bath Fire Department wrapped, with the child’s name, number and address attached no later than Dec. 14.
“This program has been very well received over the last several years. In fact, for the last two years we have had three trucks out doing the deliveries. It is always a pleasure to serve the community in ways other than during emergencies. This is just one small way we can show our appreciation for the support we receive from our community.”
Empty home
Friends of Akron’s Marsha Morgan — whose Yale Street home went up in flames on Aug. 24 — hosted a luncheon last weekend to boost her spirits and replace some of the little things, like kitchen utensils, that she lost in the fire. She did not have renter’s insurance.
Morgan worked with this friendly bunch at the American Red Cross call center; all 50 or so of them lost their jobs when the Summit County operation was shut down.
Morgan has nothing in her new rental home but a lounge chair and a glass table. She doesn’t even have a bed. Anyone with gently used furniture willing to help this 66-year-old woman get back on her feet, please call 330-671-3569.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.