School project mixes learning, giving back

BOUQUETS>> To the pre-K students at All Saints School of St. John Vianney in Wickliffe who spend part of their winter helping others thanks to their annual lemonade stand.

Mary Rainey’s pre-K students learn and build social skills as they make and sell the lemonade themselves. Over the past five years, it has grown into a school-wide service project, with all the funds going to the pediatric cancer charity Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation works to fund research, raise awareness and support families facing childhood cancer.

Rainey said all money raised in her students’ lemonade stand is donated to the charity. She estimates that over the years they’ve donated over $1,000.

“The very first year we just invited the faculty and staff members to come in and I think we raised $25. Then we expanded it every year where the teachers would bring their classes down, so it’s really become a school-wide service project,” Rainey said.

Rainey said the activity is a well-rounded experience for her students because they’re able to use skills from across subjects.

“I’m really proud of my kids,” she said. “Even though they’re young, they’re learning about serving others and I think that really does make an impact when they understand why we’re doing this. It’s not just for fun, but we’re trying to help someone else.”

And that’s a lesson you’re never too young to learn.

BOUQUETS>> To McMinn Baseball League on being chosen the Mentor-on-the-Lake Organization of the Year for 2019.

The league has been around for more than 30 years.

League President Bob Lonchor accepted the award from Mentor-on-the-Lake officials.

Mayor David Eva listed some of the organization’s contributions to the city.

“Over the last several years, the league has resurfaced all of the fields in Mentor-on-the-Lake and added dugouts to all fields,” he said. “This year, we are talking with them about a pavilion at McMinn Park, paid for by the league.

“They have been helpful with sharing the expense of maintaining the baseball fields in the city.”

Lonchor called the award humbling.

“It’s nice to know that your efforts are appreciated by the city,” he said.

Keep up the good work.

BOUQUETS>> To those involved in the annual Souper Bowl at St. Gabriel’s Church in Concord

Township.

Students involved in the Builders of the Kingdom youth ministry programs helped serve soups, bread, salads and desserts. The event helps raise money for the St. Gabriel Food Pantry, which serves 30,000 meals each month to those in need in the Mentor, Concord and Painesville areas, according to the church.

Youth Faith Formation Director Paul Kelly said there were about 130 students volunteering at the Feb. 1 event, which is now in its 13th year. All the food served is donated from area restaurants, about 35 in all, he said.

“It’s exciting for me to see our young people reaching out to serve and help others,” Kelly said. “This is the call of Jesus, to love one another as I have loved you. Young people want to help, and this is something practical they can do.”

The food pantry first opened in 1978 and is currently staffed by about 65 volunteers.

We’re grateful to have folks like this in our community who are so dedicated to helping the less fortunate.

BRICKBATS>> To whoever or whatever is responsible for up to 25 percent of Madison Village residents not receiving their water bills in the mail.

“On a given cycle, we can have 20 percent to 25 percent of our bills not show up at a customer’s house,” said Village Administrator Dwayne Bailey.

Bailey said the village’s mail is collected in Madison, sent to a Post Office location on Orange Avenue in Cleveland, and then comes back for local delivery.

Although village officials have spoken with the U.S. Postal Service about what might be happening to the bills, no one has been able to identify the cause of the delivery problems or how they can be solved.

The advice from U.S. Postal Service Strategic Communication Specialist Naddia Dhalai:

“If a customer is expecting a bill, they can contact the local postmaster or call 1-800-ASKUSPS.”

Bailey suggested any Madison Village resident who doesn’t receive a water bill by the halfway point in a given month should contact Village Hall at 440-428-7526 for assistance, Bailey said. Email bills were another suggestion.

We appreciate the village offering solutions, but consumers should be able to have confidence in the U.S. Postal Service.