Keep the spirit

Opinion

Discussion

October 31, 2009

Anonymous The Kokomo Tribune Sat Oct 31, 2009, 09:29 PM EDT

Even when she isn’t feeling the best due to her own problems, 12-year-old Kori Brown keeps planning, raising funds and working for others, especially those stricken with cancer.

The Maconaquah sixth-grader’s dedication to and zeal for raising funds for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in spite of her own congenital blood disease led producers of the ABC television show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to choose her family as the recipients of a brand-new home that was unveiled Tuesday.

Numerous businesses and hundreds, if not thousands, of people volunteered to help tear down the old house and build a new one for the Cowan-Brown family. Volunteers worked throughout the day and night to make sure the house was completed on time. So many volunteers turned out at times that there were too many to work on the home site. Many were sent to work for organizations in Kokomo that needed help.

But now that the lights and cameras are gone and the show’s producers are sorting through hundreds of hours of videotape to create the January show, the need for volunteers in the Cass, Miami, Howard, Tipton and Carroll county areas remains.

Plenty of area organizations who support individual and community needs, hospitals and nursing homes, schools and museums, youth sports and Scout groups all are in need of volunteers to give a boost to their activities. The directors of all those groups will tell you the volunteers are at the heart of their services.

Let’s take the effort that began two weeks ago and turn it into an everyday occurrence. Take time out of your life and volunteer. It doesn’t have to be working on a home, although groups such as Habitat for Humanity would certainly appreciate the help.

Take time to coach young people in sports or take them camping. Spend a few minutes each week helping someone learn to read or to help a child with homework.

Volunteer to spend time with an elderly person confined to a home or a health-care facility. It brightens people’s days, and it will make you feel better about yourself.

Don’t let the spirit of volunteerism die now that the TV crew has come and gone because one thing is certain: Kori won’t quit just because someone has recognized her efforts.

That young woman is probably already looking for a new way to raise money for Relay for Life.

– Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, and Kokomo Tribune

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Opinion

White shouldn’t return to office
The issue: The conviction of Indiana’s secretary of state.

Our view: Charlie White’s ouster from office should be permanent.

February 9, 2012
Editorial - Feb. 8, 2012: Grand success for Indianapolis
The issue: The Super Bowl.

Our view: Indianapolis left a great impression on thousands of visitors.

February 8, 2012
Letters to the Editor: Feb. 8, 2012
As Hoosiers celebrate the conclusion of a truly remarkable Super Bowl experience, there is even more good news that should fill us with pride. More Indiana students are graduating from high school than ever before.

February 8, 2012
Which religions will we include?
The Indiana Senate last week approved a bill that would allow public schools to teach creationism, as long as they include theories from multiple religions.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
If you say so
In an opinion piece we published Thursday, state Rep. Mike Karickhoff announced why he voted against “right-to-work” legislation. His reason: The community told him to.

February 5, 2012
Cheers and jeers - Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012
Karickhoff acted ‘cowardly’

The Rev. Robin Wentworth Mayer and Horst G. Mayer of Kokomo send the Jeer for state Rep. Mike Karickhoff’s silence during the “right-to-work” debate:

“Mr. Karickhoff, for someone who’s new to office, you’ve certainly learned the art of talking out of both sides of your mouth.

February 3, 2012
Let’s drug test our lawmakers
Perhaps it’s appropriate that a measure passed by the Indiana House this week would ask not only welfare recipients but Indiana lawmakers to consent to a drug test.

February 3, 2012
Editorial - Feb. 2, 2012: Peru delivers a message
The issue: Peru’s collection of $20,000 last year from property owners who failed to keep their yards mowed.

Our view: Aggressive enforcement can help a city’s finances, but the benefits go beyond dollars and cents.

February 2, 2012
Karickhoff: Reason behind my ‘right-to-work’ vote
There is no doubt the “right-to-work” debate has brought mixed emotions, not only to our state but District 30 as well. There were only a handful of House Republicans who did not vote in support of this legislation. Let me explain why I felt it was necessary for me to vote in opposition to right to work.

February 2, 2012
Heinig: ‘Right-to-work’ law to arouse continued resistance
I wouldn’t call Gov. Mitch Daniels a charismatic leader, but he does possess some leadership skills. If he didn’t, he couldn’t have brought us this far along the happy trail to his economic Valhalla.

February 2, 2012
More Opinion Headlines

Opinion

Search Results

Discussion

Keep the spirit

Site Map

Contact Us