News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Barbara Haynes introduces "sparrow" Melissa and her mom Chablis.
Sisters Middle School students got to meet the young cerebral palsied girl they have adopted as their "sparrow" at a spirited assembly on Thursday, December 20.
Students have raised funds through the Sparrow Club at the school to help six-and-a-half-year-old Melissa Macy of Bend, along with her mom Chablis DaFoe and her sister Bethany. Melissa is severely cerebral palsied and is mostly blind.
Middle schoolers cleaned and snow-shoveled driveways and sidewalks and stacked wood for seven hours over four days during their interim week, earning $1,060 for Melissa's family.
The funds were part of $2,560 pledged by Rhino Ranch & Realty of Sisters to be paid to the Sparrow Club at a rate of $10 per hour for community service by students. The Sparrow Club involves school children in reaching out to families strained by the effort of caring for sick or handicapped children.
Many students gathered around Melissa at the close of the assembly, providing her with a bag of wrapped presents and meeting the girl whose life they hope to improve.
Another fund-raiser played out right before students' eyes as Mr. Patton got his legs shaved after "losing" a fund-raising contest in the classrooms.
(Whoever ended up with the most money in their fund-raising pot was chosen for this public ... display. Paul Patton's money jar was the fullest, reportedly after some other potential victims stuffed the pot).
The funds raised will help Melissa's family with uncovered medical expenses and the day-to-day necessities required in the arduous effort to care for a severely handicapped child.
The assembly also featured holiday musical performances by the Sisters Middle School band and choir, under the direction of Jody Henderson and Elizabeth Renner. Donna Moyer accompanied the choir on piano.
The music was clearly a highlight for Melissa. Though she cannot talk, her sudden alertness indicated that she liked the music.
Teacher Paul Patton got his legs shaved by Principal Lora Nordquist (center) and activities director Barbara Haynes as part of a fund-raiser at Sisters Middle School.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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