Volunteers make futures bright for youth

Annette Beard

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Bringing the community, school staff and students together to help make futures bright for Pea Ridge youth is the core of the many projects of Bright Futures Pea Ridge.

Volunteers and school staff were recognized and honored at an appreciation breakfast last week.

"Your community depends on you -- think about what you can do to help," Rick Neal, school superintendent, said. "Bringing everyone to the table is so important."

A video created by teacher Ali Johnson illustrated the many facets of Bright Futures.

"It's important that everyone knows what we are doing," he said.

School social worker Amanda Childs shared that there were 168 requests fulfilled by Bright Futures including requests for food, a washer and dryer, school supplies, clothes.

Car Buddies

"You don't realize where these kids come from," Nathan See said as he explained part of the impact Car Buddies has, explaining that each volunteer greets the children with a smile, a pat on the back, an encouraging word. "We want them to know school is a safe place. These kids need us."

"Top of the day to you," Mayor Jackie Crabtree, who participate in both Car Buddies and Lunch Buddies, explained his wearing a top hat because it was given to him years ago by a city resident. He said the children like the hat.

"I had to take a selfie with a third-grade little girl," he said, adding that she asked him to sign her yearbook. "I tell you, that pays for all the work, the early mornings. I don't know any other community that cares more for their kids than Pea Ridge. It's a privilege to serve. It's important what we do."

Lunch Buddies

Mrs. Pat Orrick and Mrs. Marcia Cothran are two of the volunteers in the Lunch Buddies program and both say they are blessed to visit with their lunch buddies. Volunteers spend one lunch period a week with their student.

"I heard them talking about the lunch buddies about three years ago ... thought no way I could do that," Mrs. Orrick said, then credited her friend Mrs. Cothran with giving her a ride and helping her negotiate the ramp with her walker. "It involved eating. I could do that. It involved kids. I kinda like kids."

"If you have some time on your hands, just one hour a week, I guarantee it ... the kids are glad to see you," she said. "Sometimes they're preoccupied and want to eat ... other times they talk your leg off."

"I really love it. If you don't think that one hour a week will enrich your life, you're missing out," she concluded.

Back to School Bash & Stuff the Bus

Several years ago, Joe and Malinda Stewart at First Baptist Church started a Back to School Bash offering school supplies to students. Bright Futures joined their effort and the project has grown from serving about 20 students to more than 100, according to B.J. Dye, who said "My hope is that you can see the affect on these kids who can start school with everything they need -- they start on a level playing field. No one has to miss anything or feel ashamed."

Stuff the Bus is the starting place for the Back to School Bash and is slated for July 23. A school bus parked in front of Neighborhood Market, Pea Ridge Walmart, is the collection point for donated school supplies.

"If you haven't been a part of that, you should. It's an amazing day just to see the faces of the kids," Dye said. Two hair stylists will offer haircuts, a free breakfast, clothes for everyone in the family and school supplies will be provided at the Back to School Bash Aug. 6.

"This community is awesome about giving us clothes," Dye said. "This is a great time for the kids to be loved on a little bit, to show them that somebody cares."

Book Bus

The book bus, a summer project delivering library books to students, is a project involving Tracy Hager and Ashley Clark and many volunteers. Held from 8:30-11 a.m. on Tuesdays, the bus travels to Jones Trailer Park and other areas in the district then ends up at the Primary School at the same time as the summer lunch program.

"Children get on the bus, check out a book, get a Popsicle," Hagar said. "If you want to feel warm and fuzzy, feel the impact we have on these children, join us on the book bus," she said. "Those kids come running out of their trailers in pjs -- they love to read with us and get Popsicle. Those moms are the best moms about getting the books back to the book bus.

"When we started the program last summer, we started with nothing," Hager said, but said donated books, a school bus provided by the district and generous volunteers have made the project a success. She said Shannon Brown, librarian, helped get a grant from Scholastic; teacher Holly Dayberry and the League of Literates help with anything needed; and teacher Roxanne Enix and the National Honor Society students held a fundraiser.

Track and Field

"As you know, Mr. Neal likes to challenge us to start things," Sue Stacey, special education director, said. "We began the Track and Field day ... we have four to five other school districts involved."

She said there are many volunteers and the adults and children who volunteer feel blessed just to help. "This is such a life changing event for those kids to be there," Stacey said. "It's given lots of my kids the confidence to come to school and interact with their peers."

Stacey said one of her students even ran for a class office. "She never would have done that before, but because she has the clothing, it's a level playing field and has increased her confidence."

Clothing Closet

"Nadine Telgemeier ... is a warrior when it comes to getting things organized," Bonnie Fullmer, Bright Futures chairman, said, explaining that Telgemeier organizes the volunteers. "This would not be what it is today without her."

Telgemeier said the clothing closet is greatly used and provides for students of every age.

Volunteers applauded

Those recognized included: Marcia Cothran and Pat Orrick, Lunch Buddies; Nathan See; B.J. Dye; Nadine Telgemeier; Jeff Lang and John Fisher, maintenance workers who built storage shelves in the storeroom for the food and clothing; and Cheryl Tillman, Heart and Sole coordinator.